COMPANY: Texas Air Systems, Dallas

INSTALLATION: McQuay 2,000-ton dual-compressor centrifugal chiller

COMPLETION: Completed

CUSTOMER: Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Dallas

OBJECTIVE: Reduce energy costs without compromising environmental air quality.

DESCRIPTION: The Methodist Dallas Medical Center took a total systems approach in its quest to reduce energy costs and improve environmental conditions. The previous HVAC system included one 1,400-ton, one 1,100-ton, and one 650-ton centrifugal chiller. Although it was only 15 years old, the existing HVAC system was unable to handle the increased cooling load at the expanding hospital. To address the issue, the hospital installed a McQuay® 2,000-ton dual-compressor centrifugal chiller, new variable-frequency drives, and new controls that gave the hospital an 18-month return on the investment while saving 7 percent in utility costs.

“By looking at all the elements and issues of energy management, you avoid the typical roller-coaster effect caused by reactive responses to increasing costs,” said Ron Green, president and founder of Energy Integrators Inc., Dallas, an independent energy consulting firm that worked with the installing contractor, Texas Air Systems, Dallas. “When you have an overall strategic utility management plan in place, events that you can’t control, such as a spike in utility costs or potential carbon taxes, won’t affect you as much.”

“By looking at all the elements and issues of energy management, you avoid the typical roller-coaster effect caused by reactive responses to increasing costs.”
- Ron Green, president of Energy Integrators Inc.

Publication date: 01/12/2009