Uncovering Energy Savings at Vet Med 3A MPT

A team effort between the Energy & Engineering team, and Building Maintenance Services (BMS) shops for sheet metal, ventilation, plumbing, and electrical created a big win at the Vet Med 3A Multipurpose Teaching (MPT) facility. 

In May 2022, along with BMS, the Energy & Engineering team discovered a maintenance issue with parts of the air handling units (AHUs) that provide cooling to the Vet Med 3A MPT. The equipment has two indirect evaporative coolers (IDEC) on the intake of the AHU’s. Nearing their end of life, these IDEC units have been operating sub-optimally and requiring extensive annual maintenance. The team also discovered pressure restrictions on the fans, requiring them to overwork and waste energy. 

The solution proposed was to remove the IDEC units, which was a huge undertaking. The job required the sheet metal shop to cut a hole in the top of the air handling unit so portions of the IDEC units could be lifted out with a crane. After replacing the units, the outcome achieved more energy savings than expected since scaling on the IDEC tubes was restricting airflow.  

The project highlighted the need for a realistic perspective when considering building energy efficiency. Energy Engineer Sam Cole noted, “The IDEC systems are a cool concept since they precool the building’s incoming air. However, these particular systems turned out to be maintenance headaches that rarely saved energy because they weren’t functioning properly. To replace them could have been more than a quarter of a million dollars, so we took an unconventional approach and removed an energy efficiency device to save energy.” 

Thanks to all involved in the project! Kudos to Manuel Preciado, Nate Wilkinson, Greg Turben, Chris Meyer, Ryan Montoya, Jim Miller, Matt Preciado, John Eldeen, Justin Wisterman, Ben Griffin, Kevin Eubanks, and Tim Schaefer. 

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