Telecom Central Office Cuts Cost Without Disrupting Operations
A downtown Pittsburgh central office facility required significant infrastructure upgrades while maintaining 24/7 operations for a major telecommunications provider.
$85,000
annual utility cost savings
1.3M+
kWh saved annually
location
Pittsburgh, PA
size
4.500 tons capacity
industry
Telecom
the problem
A 550,000 sq. ft. downtown central office faced multiple challenges: outdated chiller plant infrastructure, insufficient control redundancy for mission-critical systems, and inefficient hydronic configuration resulting in high energy consumption. Any upgrades to the 4,500 ton chiller system needed to be implemented without disrupting telecommunications traffic through this high-volume facility.
the solution
tekWorx implemented a comprehensive optimization strategy designed to address both efficiency and reliability concerns, all while ensuring zero disruption to the facility’s critical operations.
The multi-faceted approach included:
- Converting the existing system to a Variable-Primary hydronic configuration, eliminating inefficiencies in the water distribution system
- Installing a redundant PLC-based Xpress® system to provide enhanced control capabilities
- Implementing Xpress® algorithms that dynamically optimized chiller sequencing and load distribution, directly addressing the low ΔT and high kW/ton issues by continuously calculating the most efficient operating parameters based on real-time conditions
- Seamlessly integrating with the existing Metasys building automation system to maintain operational continuity
The upgrade has not only reduced our operating costs but has given us greater control and visibility into our cooling systems, helping us maintain the 24/7 reliability our network demands.”
Director of Engineering and Facilities
the results
The optimization project delivered impressive financial and operational benefits without a single minute of service disruption to this mission-critical telecommunications facility.
Financial and energy improvements:
- $85,000 in annual energy savings with a 2.3-year payback period
- 1.3 million kWh reduction in annual energy consumption
- 0.36 kW/ton efficiency improvement, representing significant performance gains
The project also yielded substantial operational benefits that extended beyond pure cost savings:
- Complete operational continuity throughout the implementation process
- Enhanced system reliability with N+1 redundancy standard
- Reduced troubleshooting response time