Featured Projects:
Retirement Community Energy Audit Identifies Ways to Reduce Annual Energy Use by 25% and Save $2 Million Over the next 20 Years: Chambersburg, PA
The Menno Haven Retirement Community in Chambersburg, PA, is one of the largest retirement/assisted living communities in Pennsylvania. Envinity was contracted to develop energy management plans for all of their assisted living facilities as well as a representative sample of single family residential units. The project was broken into three phases with each phase focusing on a set of assisted living facilities. Envinity has recently completed the first phase of work where energy audits were performed and energy management plans were developed for Menno Haven’s Nursing Center (113,000 ft2) and Village Square (87,000 ft2). Additionally, eight residential units were energy audited by Envinity’s expert residential team as part of our continued work through our partnership with the National Energy Leadership Corps program sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
The Nursing Center functions mostly as an assisted living facility that caters to elderly persons in need of constant care. Having underdone eight renovations and additions over the course of its 40 year history, the building is comprised of a hodgepodge of mechanical systems, building envelope types, and other building systems. Menno Haven spends an average of $300,000 annually on energy costs, not counting the constant maintenance required to operate the 24/7 facility. As result of the energy audit, Envinity engineers identified over $60,000 in annual energy savings by recommending a mixture of low cost, quick payback opportunities as well as more detailed solutions to address aging building systems. Recommendations made to address the inefficiencies of their kitchen ventilation are already in the process of implementation, an action that is projected to reduce energy costs by $14,000 annually.
The Village Square is an independent living facility that operates more like a typical multi family building. Constructed in 1988, Menno Haven spends an average of $160,000 annually on energy costs. Utility costs include that of resident rooms (114), dining halls, a commercial kitchen, a pharmacy, a café and a pool. The energy audit revealed over $55,000 in annual energy savings by making simple operational improvements to PTAC units, upgrading facility lighting, and optimizing the chilled water system.
All in all, total of 44 feasible recommendations were made that will reduce Menno Haven’s annual energy use by 25% over the next five years as all projects are implemented. These upgrades to address energy efficiency will improve annual cash flow: they are expected to yield a cumulative energy savings of over $2 million over the next 20 years. The next phase of work is slated to kick off in winter/spring 2012 and include two more multi-family facilities as well as ten more residential units.
For more information on this project, please contact Jason Grottini, who served as project manager.
Energy Audit of Small Business Projected to Yield $19,000 in Annual Energy
Savings, State College, PA
Doty & Hench, a State College insurance firm, has been awarded a 2011 DEP Small Business Advantage Grant in the amount of $7,500 to the reduce the cost of important energy upgrades.
During the winter, Doty & Hench owners became concerned over increasing energy costs despite no changes in building use having occurred. They invested in an Envinity diagnostic energy audit which revealed they were consuming more than twice as much energy per square foot when compared to other similar office buildings. Envinity uncovered several major issues during the audit including limited zone control, uncontrolled outdoor air volumes, errors in existing economizer sequencing, simultaneous heating and cooling, no-lock out capability on back-up resistance heat and air system imbalance and duct leakage.
Through the help of Envinity engineers and the grant, Doty & Hench will be installing a web enabled building automation system, balancing the air system, and sealing all leaky ductwork. The total energy saving that will be realized annually is 42% ($19,000/year).
Campus-Wide Energy Management Plan: Kiski School, Saltsburg, PA
Envinity was contracted by The
Kiski School to develop a campus wide energy management plan. The twenty-two
facilities to be audited include a Library, Art Center, Field House,
Dormitories, and a waste water facility. Envinity will use EnergyCAP to
benchmark all facilities and to measure and verify project savings. Envinity and
The Kiski School have set an aggressive goal of reducing annual operating costs
by 30%.
Envinity also submitted a Commonwealth Financing Authority Alternative Clean Energy Grant on behalf of Kiski to implement a 10 kW solar array for education and curriculum development. This project is aimed solely to serve as an educational tool by the school through the installation of a solar dashboard technology to be observed by all students, faculty, and alumni.
Municipal Energy Management Plan, Union County, PA
Government leaders in Union County contracted Envinity to analyze the
energy usage of three County-owned facilities: the Union County
Courthouse, the Union County Government Center, and the Mifflinburg
Government Center. While each building is used primarily as office space
for County employees, the buildings also have other specialized uses
such as courthouse, jail, and public safety incorporated within each.
Envinity used findings from the municipal energy audit to produce a comprehensive energy management plan for enhancements over a five-year period. If the County follows the energy recommendations outlined in the plan, Envinity estimates that they could reduce energy costs by approximately 22%. To quantify, the county spends approximately $198,900 annually on energy across the three facilities evaluated. If just the Year 1 and Year 2 conservation recommendations are implemented, the County could save $43,000 every year. Learn more.
Municipal Energy Management Plan, New Berlin, PA
In Fall 2010, Envinity was selected to perform comprehensive level
energy assessments of the community and institutional facilities for the
Borough of New Berlin, as part of the New Berlin Energy Independence Project (NBEI). (Please see update, 3/23/11.)
Envinity assessed 11 buildings including historical churches, schools, community hubs and municipally owned properties in New Berlin, PA, to help the town move toward energy independence.
Envinity provided each facility with a detailed energy management plan which outlined the order in which recommendations should be implemented to maximize energy savings and assure a more sustainable future.
The plans include a series of low cost, quick payback measures (< 3 years) that will produce over $19,000 in annual savings (nearly 30% reduction in energy use).
