The goal of this project at six locations in Colorado was to assess the existing cooling system and implement mechanical upgrades to the legacy equipment to capture energy savings, increase reliability and capacity, and to extend equipment life at each facility.
The Enabled Energy team worked with the client to define a project scope to accommodate the client’s payback requirements and current load conditions while maintaining adequate cooling performance of the mechanical equipment.
Enabled Energy’s Solution
After assessing the equipment at each of the sites, it was determined that the installation of VFDs on existing Air Handling Units was the best option for savings. The AHUs were running at 100% fan speed, and with the installation of VFDs, the fan speeds would be turned down to provide a sufficient amount of airflow while adding life to the existing equipment.
The Results
These projects reduced the energy demand by roughly 244 kW and yield an estimated annual energy savings of 2,137,440 kWh in total over the 6 sites. This equates to nearly $157,663 saved on annual energy expenses. The project costs for the program were offset by utility incentives of $64,250 From Xcel Energy, Efficiency Works, and the Applied Energy Group. The average project payback is 1.41 years for the program.
| Location | Scope of Work | Rebate Amount | Estimated Annual Savings | Estimated Project Payback |
| Denver, CO | 4 VFDs | $6,400 | $16,504 | 1.32 years |
| Denver, CO | 6 VFDs | $10,550 | $29,138 | 1.58 years |
| Denver, CO | 5 VFDs | $11,200 | $35,651 | 1.01 years |
| Littleton, CO | 3 VFDs | $12,100 | $22,000 | 1.56 years |
| Pueblo, CO | 3 VFDs | $7,000 | $25,485 | 1.52 years |
| Fort Collins, CO | 5 VFDs | $17,000 | $28,885 | 1.45 years |
Enabled Energy, Inc. completed all 6 projects in the Fall of 2021. ABB supplied the VFDs for this program. Kenny Electric and Adam Electric provided on-site support to the Enabled Energy team.
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