A 16-story mixed-use hotel and office building in Austin TX, implemented tekWorx’s Xpress® optimization system in March 2023. As part of their ongoing efficiency efforts, they enrolled in the tekWatch Insight ® remote monitoring and diagnostics service, which provides regular expert analysis of their chiller plant performance.
Challenge
Maintaining optimal performance of the chiller plant is crucial year-round, especially during Austin’s hot summers and variable seasons. The building needed to ensure their chiller plant was operating at peak efficiency to manage costs and maintain proper conditions for hotel guests and office tenants while dealing with the diverse load profiles of a mixed-use building.
tekWatch Insight® in Action:
During a quarterly review in July 2023, the tekWatch team logged in to analyze the site’s chiller plant performance data. Their analysis revealed several key insights:
- Chiller Efficiency Improvements:
- The efficiency curves for all chillers showed significant improvement since the last review.
- This was attributed to well-maintained equipment and the Xpress® system operating at full capacity.
- Setpoint Optimization:
- The Xpress® system’s calculated setpoints dramatically improved the efficiencies of the chillers and other plant equipment.
- Comparison of actual operation vs. design temperatures showed significant energy savings.
- Specific Chiller Performance:
- Chiller 3, which at design temperatures would operate at ~0.500 kW/tR, achieved an average of 0.401 kW/tR for the month.
- This optimization resulted in energy savings of approximately 10,260 kWh for Chiller 3 alone.
- Cooling Tower Operation:
- The analysis noted slightly increased cooling tower operation due to lower setpoints.
- However, this was more than offset by the energy savings achieved in chiller operation.
- Pump Performance:
- Primary pumps and tower pumps were tracking their respective setpoints effectively, yielding additional savings.
The quarterly tekWatch Insight® reports … helps us understand the real impact of the Xpress® system and gives us confidence that we’re maximizing our energy efficiency while meeting the diverse needs of our hotel guests and office tenants.
– Facilities Manager
Results:
- Energy Savings:
- Estimated $500 savings on chiller operation for the month, just from temperature setpoint optimization.
- Additional savings from optimized pump operations.
- Improved Efficiency:
- Chiller efficiency improved by nearly 20% compared to operation at design temperatures.
- Operational Insights:
- The analysis provided clear evidence of the benefits of allowing the Xpress® system to operate as intended.
- Long-term Benefits:
- Continuous optimization is expected to extend equipment life and reduce maintenance costs.
Key Takeaways:
- Regular expert analysis through tekWatch programs can identify significant efficiency improvements and savings opportunities in mixed-use buildings.
- Allowing optimization systems like Xpress® to operate fully can yield substantial energy and cost savings, even with varying load profiles.
- The tekWatch Insight® service provides concrete data to validate the effectiveness of optimization strategies in complex, multi-use facilities.
- Even small improvements in setpoints can lead to significant energy savings over time, benefiting both the hotel and office spaces.
Client Feedback: “The quarterly tekWatch Insight® reports provide invaluable insights into our chiller plant’s performance. The detailed analysis helps us understand the real impact of the Xpress® system and gives us confidence that we’re maximizing our energy efficiency while meeting the diverse needs of our hotel guests and office tenants.” -, Facilities Manager,