Before selecting equipment, we used data loggers to study the heating and cooling loads of the building. We discovered the existing equipment was much larger than it needed to be. After discussing redundancy with the Owner, we selected new equipment that was smaller than the original. This high rise building in downtown Chicago had the mechanical equipment located in the penthouse. The new chillers were helicopter lifted through a hole in the roof of the penthouse.

The reduction of the over-sized equipment reduced the capital cost of the equipment, reduced operating expenses, and allowed the chillers to be lifted without taking them apart. Natural gas usage was reduced by 40% through the use of condensing boilers and an aggressive hot water reset schedule. Two years later, this building achieved the Department of Energy EnergyStar award.