Photo credit: Bill Timmerman
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents ECM Technologies.)
By Rose Law Group Reporter
Whether it’s to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy costs or enhance occupant health and experience, HVAC plays a vital role in building management. In January 2022, ECM Technologies, a leader in HVAC efficiency and energy conservation, was engaged by the City of Phoenix to work with their energy-planning, facilities and sustainability teams to treat Phoenix Art Museum’s HVAC systems to restore lost efficiency, improve air quality and lower overall building emission, all while carefully preserving the priceless art.
The Challenge
The Phoenix Art Museum facility is maintained by the City of Phoenix. As a result, the building’s energy consumption and carbon emissions impact the city’s operating costs, as well as its goal to become carbon-neutral by the year 2050. Additionally, museums are built to house irreplaceable artwork and artifacts that have very specific temperature and humidity requirements for preservation. They are also intended to be visited by patrons, who have their own conditioned space needs as well as their presence impacting the building’s overall temperature and humidity conditions. The City of Phoenix sought an energy-efficient HVAC solution that would restore Phoenix Art Museum’s lost efficiency and improve the indoor climate for the museum’s specialized environment while also contributing to the City’s energy conservation goals.
The solution
ECM Technologies’ signature HVAC solution, ThermaClear™, is an innovative HVAC treatment the City has embraced to support its goals.
“In 2016, the City of Phoenix established its 2050 goal of becoming a carbon neutral city and the use of innovative technology such as this will play a role in that effort,” said City of Phoenix Public Works Energy Management Specialist Jim Gorombei. “The City performed several pilot demonstrations with ECM Technologies and was satisfied with the results, therefore contracted with the company to implement its ThermaClear™ treatment in various facilities.”
The results
Upon completion of the ThermaClear™ treatment in 2022, Phoenix Art Museum is continuously earning HVAC efficiency gains averaging 10.1%, resulting in reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The one-time treatment with ThermaClear™ is also extending the museum’s three water-cooled chillers equipment life that totals 1,050-tons of comfort cooling.
Since treating the museum with ThermaClear™ in 2022, over 542,900 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents are not being released annually by Phoenix Art Museum. This equates to eliminating emissions of 53 cars being driven for an entire year.
“The quality of our air at Phoenix Art Museum is extremely important for preserving the museum’s collection of artwork, held in the public trust, as well as enhancing the overall guest experience,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Not only does ThermaClear™ ensure our HVAC equipment runs at top quality at a reasonable cost, but I am also thrilled to share that a single treatment has been able to make a positive impact in the museum’s ability to reduce our CO2 output and, consequently, our greenhouse gas emissions.”
To date, ECM Technologies has treated over 24,000 tons of HVAC equipment, servicing more than 9.5 million square feet of building conditioned space. All makes and models of major HVAC equipment types have been successfully treated, ranging from one-ton mini-splits to 2,000-ton, water-cooled chillers. The typical ThermaClear™ payback period ranges from 12 months to 36 months and results in HVAC operational savings of 15% to 20% annually. One treatment is all that is needed for the life of the HVAC system and is backed by a full warranty for the remaining useful life of the equipment.
Click here for more information and to view other ECM Technologies case studies.
