Mechanical
Mechanical systems that provide building heating, and ventilation, and water heating functions benefit from upgrades to newer, more energy-efficient equivalents as they reach the end of their useful life. We’re conducting these upgrades to old, inefficient fans, pumps, heating plants, and other typical appliances our Government buildings need to provide their services. In most cases, these upgrades allow our buildings to reach their minimum operating conditions for energy demand while still maintaining, or improving, indoor environmental conditions. In other words, we’re trying to get the same, or more, out of our buildings’ major mechanical systems, but for much less energy!
Appliance Replacement
Old appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines become inefficient as time goes by, and are generally in need of replacement within 20 years. Newer Energy Star certified models that reduce electricity and water consumption (such as front-loading washing machines, for example) are being replaced in the following buildings:
Kivalliq
Uqurmiut
Quttikturmiut
Heating Plant Replacement
Existing boiler plants (or furnaces in smaller buildings) that are past their useful life require replacement with newer equipment that requires less energy to operate. Replacing this major equipment is often paired with new control systems to ensure the building’s heating demands are being met by the heating plants as efficiently as possible by keeping the heating plants at their lowest possible operating setpoints. Buildings where these systems are being replaced include:
Removable Valve Covers
Removable insulation jackets increase energy-efficiency by preventing heat loss across equipment that houses hot or cold fluids. These jackets are being installed on valves, strainers, pumps, and other pipe fittings in building mechanical and water piping. The jackets aren’t like permanent insulation, though; they’re easy to remove for routine equipment maintenance. Buildings where this work is being done are listed below.
Kivalliq
Uqurmiut
Quttikturmiut
Variable Speed Motor Controls
When air for ventilation or water for heating is required it is often delivered at a constant flow rate regardless of how much air or water the building needs. We’re converting motor control systems that work like this in the buildings listed below to be variable flow, enabling these systems to meet actual system demands with as little energy as possible.
Kivalliq
