EMPIRE
STATE
BUILDING
PROJECT NAME
Empire State Building
LOCATION
NEW YORK, NY
COMPLETED
2017
CHILLER REVITALIZATION UNLOCKS OVER $1M IN SAVINGS
A timeless symbol of American ingenuity, the Empire State Building, completed in 1931, remains an iconic landmark and the 4th tallest building in the United States. Its Art Deco design is a masterpiece, recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
CONFIGURATION
Located three stories below ground, the Empire State Building’s 10,000- ton chilled water plant houses a diverse range of equipment, including both electric and steam-driven centrifugal chillers. This plant serves three distinct zones (low, medium, and high), each configured with a primary flow parallel chiller arrangement. Cooling towers are strategically positioned on the ground floor within the open loading dock area.
RESIDENTIAL
To identify and implement energy-saving measures within the 10,000-ton chilled water plant at the Empire State Building, a LEED-certified building with a high degree of existing energy conservation measures (ECMs). Despite prior implementations of VFDs on critical equipment (chiller motors, pumps, cooling towers), the Director of Engineering, Mr. Tim Dailey, believed further energy savings were achievable. U.S. Chiller Services was engaged to conduct a thorough plant assessment and implement energy-saving opportunities.
CHILLER REVITILIZATION
2017 served as the baseline year, as all existing energy conservation measures (ECMs) were fully operational, and their associated savings were already established. This provided a solid foundation for evaluating the incremental savings achievable through revitalizing the existing chiller. All retro-commissioning activities were performed as part of our service agreement, requiring no additional capital investment from the Empire State Building.
In 2018, we conducted a comprehensive retro-commissioning of the chilled water plant, with a particular focus on the electric-driven York YK centrifugal chillers. Savings were verified through Chiller Efficiency and utility Bill analysis:
Traditional Management
Traditional chiller energy management primarily focuses on minimizing chiller run time to reduce energy consumption. This is often achieved through manual operator adjustments or automated systems with limited optimization capabilities.
Dalkia Optimization
While these methods offer some energy savings, they often neglect the significant potential for energy reduction through optimizing chiller performance and operating efficiency.
By The Numbers
45%
More efficient
The chillers had a 45% improvement in efficiency.
$1M
More savings
Utility bill analysis showed $1,344,110 in savings.
2 Years
More time
Average time for customers to pay for Dalkia US Chiller projects.
$500K
More incentives
Average available incentives for Dalkia US Chiller projects.
Our production process depends on consistent cooling, so downtime hits us hard. Dalkia’s technicians were not only fast to respond, they took a long-term approach. Their chiller optimization program helped us stabilise loads, reduce peak demand, and improve our chiller efficiency by over 20%.
Michelle Lee
Operations Manager, MetroTherm Components
MAJOR ENERGY SAVINGS
This case study demonstrates the significant energy-saving potential of retro-commissioning in chilled water plants, even in facilities with existing ECMs. Across various sectors and regions, including the USA and the Middle East Gulf region, numerous buildings and chilled water plants can benefit from substantial energy savings through this approach.
And the added benefit to the planet? We’re saving thousands of chillers from ending up in a landfill by extending their lifespan through improved efficiency and performance.
Retro-commissioning should be prioritized as a crucial first step in any energy conservation initiative. It offers a cost-effective solution, often integrated into existing maintenance agreements, avoiding the need for significant capital expenditures. Furthermore, improved chiller efficiency not only reduces energy consumption but also enhances chiller reliability, improves occupant comfort, and ensures adequate cooling capacity during peak demand periods.
