Fulcrum identified over 40% in energy cost savings through a combined approach of conservation and self-generation. The University Club had long desired to sever itself from district steam and thereby reduce its annual operating costs and reduce its carbon footprint. However, the distinguished 100 year-old home of the University Club had become dependent on a wide range of steam distribution pressures to serve its heating and process demands.
The Fulcrum team immediately identified any and all steam demands which could be readily converted and served by a central self-generated hydronic heating system. Conversion to hydronic heating addressed nearly 85% of the total building demands, however it was the last 15% of steam demand that posed the greatest challenge and had been the long-standing barrier to separation from district steam. Through a combination of operational experience, proficiency in new technology, and a knowledge of local codes the Fulcrum team was able to provide local steam generation sources that did not effect the existing operating staff requirements, building aesthetics, programmatic square-footage allocations, or service requirements.
Coupled with a comprehensive energy consumption reduction program that included higher efficiency chilled water generation through heat recovery and thermal storage, equipment scheduling, and variable speed drive application; the overall energy savings were realized through an investment that will pay for itself in less than 4 years.
On-top-of the annual dollar savings, this program will also save approximately 16,000 barrels of oil, remove the equivalent of 300 cars in CO2 pollution from the New York Metro area, and conserve enough 20oz bottles of water to reach from The University Club to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, every year!
