Penrith Council: How can we reduce facility running costs and our carbon footprint while mitigating financial risk? Siemens Answer: Energy Performance Contracting.
Siemens energy performance contracting provides reductions in energy consumption and in turn, the carbon footprint left by our customers, while also providing assurance that their investment will deliver the agreed cost savings.
Penrith Council’s energy performance contract with Siemens has optimised the energy efficiency of existing systems and provided upgrades where cost effective, focusing on lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, energy management systems, environmental system controls, motors, domestic water heating, air distribution systems and water consumption.
The existing electronic controls have been replaced with the Siemens Apogee™ Building Automation System (BAS), to deliver efficient air-conditioning, associated water usage and lighting for the Council’s buildings from one central control point. Specifically, the BAS incorporates:
- Chiller sequencing, loading and unloading sequencing
- Night purge of the air conditioning system
- Time scheduling of mechanical ventilation systems
- Fan coil unit systems control by the building management system
- Demand kW management
- Outside air reset of space temperature set points
- Alternative scheduling for reduced occupancy on the air conditioning plant
- Daylight lighting control
- Integrated control of all mechanical plants and equipment
- Occupancy and standby modes for areas served by fan coil units, and importantly
- Comprehensive and real time reporting on energy consumption throughout the facilities including electrical, gas and water usage, providing accurate and up-to-date reports for environmental performance benchmarking.
Siemens has also provided the Energy Monitoring and Controlling (EMC) package, encompassing a web-based user interface. This powerful energy analysis program automatically generates the various consumption and emission reports, which are then accessed by Penrith Council at any time and from any location via the Internet.
The savings achieved have greatly exceeded the levels guaranteed as a part of the energy performance contract, ensuring that Penrith Council in turn exceeds its objectives for the Sustainable Penrith Program.
Graham Howe, Penrith Council Building Projects Co-ordinator praised Siemens for the exceptional return on investment provided through the BAS and EMC systems. “With the systems performing at up to 171% of contracted expectations, we know we made the right choice by partnering with Siemens.”
Through this integrated technology solution, per year Siemens has delivered Penrith Council with up to:
- 167% of guaranteed electricity savings
- 171% of guaranteed greenhouse gas reduction
- Savings of more than $640,000 in electricity and water charges, and
- A reduction of over 4,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to taking 1,000 cars off the road or supplying enough power for an additional 850 new energy efficient houses.
These results are based on 2001 baseline figures and usage patterns; staff numbers have since increased, which makes these results even more impressive.
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