To modernize and reduce operating costs, ENGIE identified several energy conservation opportunities which qualified for grants from the Maryland Energy Administration, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E), and tax savings. Ruxton Towers Apartments benefited from total incentives of more than $449,000. Additionally, ENGIE ensured that all equipment upgrades were planned and executed with minimal disruption to tenant comfort.

The central heating and cooling plant, located in the basement mechanical room, which includes all of the pumps, piping, valves and other fittings required to move hot and chilled water throughout the facility, needed to be overhauled. Aging boilers and chillers needed to be upgraded and the property management team strove for better control over the building terminal units.

New high-efficiency condensing boilers and a magnetic-bearing centrifugal chiller now provide heating and cooling. Coupled with new terminal units and an improved central plant piping system, the new mechanical systems, which are operated by the new BEMS, are delivering significant operating cost reduction, simplified operations, and improved tenant comfort.

3 Dimensions of Impact

ENGIE is committed to building three dimensions of impact in every customer’s future:
 

• Supporting People
  
  • Upgrading the HVAC system greatly improved occupant comfort and reduced energy consumption.
  • A new Building Energy Management System (BEMS) allowed managers automatic control of the central heating and cooling plant, with a web-based graphical user interface custom-developed for the property management team.
• Saving Money
  
  • Energy efficiency measures designed and implemented by ENGIE reduced Ruxton Towers’ annual energy cost by over $87,000 (a reduction of 25%).
  • The combined utility incentives, tax benefits, and energy efficiency grants reduced the total project cost by $449,000.
• Protecting the Environment
  
  • The energy savings of 572,000 kWh per year and 23,000 therms of gas per year, is equivalent to removing 117 cars from the road for one year.
  • The new heat exchanger provides heat rejection during the summer months, replacing the old city water heat exchanger, saving $4,300 in water costs, or 530,000 gallons per year.