53 STATE STREET ELECTRIFICATION SCOPING STUDY
BOSTON, MA
OPPORTUNITY
The 53 State Street Electrification Scoping Study presented a substantial opportunity for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in a large-scale commercial office building in downtown Boston. With a focus on electrifying the building’s heating systems using various heat pump options, the project aimed to not only meet the client's goals of reducing energy costs and upgrading aging systems, but also align with their broader sustainability objectives. The extensive square footage and high-rise nature of the building provided a significant canvas for evaluating various technologies located in a dense urban location.
CHALLENGE
Reusing existing infrastructure and equipment, managing diverse heating and cooling loads in the building, and meeting equipment space requirements with a limited roof area were a few potential challenges which were carefully considered when vetting each heat pump option. Overcoming these challenges was imperative to realizing the potential energy savings and achieving the project's objectives. Among the considered options, the team explored several heat pump systems, including Air-to-Air Heat Pumps, Central Air-to-Water Heat Pumps, Water-Cooled Heat Recovery Chiller, Water-to- Water Heat Pump Booster, Distributed Water-Source Heat Pumps.
RESULTS
Multiple solutions were developed with a practical approach, balancing the target to utilize existing infrastructure while also reducing steam use and carbon emissions. Three of the heat pump solutions screened could achieve a 40 – 50% reduction in district steam use, which would make great strides towards electrifying the building’s heating systems. Further, the transition from pneumatic to Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems could lead to enhanced control functionality and improved energy efficiency. These efforts collectively culminated in a summary report providing a clear path toward achieving the client’s goals of cost reduction and sustainable operation. The study’s findings serve as a solid foundation for the next steps in refining and potentially implementing the recommended measures.
Market:
Commercial
Services:
Energy Efficiency & Analysis
