Warrick County Jail

Challenge

The HVAC systems at Warrick County Jail had reached the end of their useful life, and operational costs were increasing as the aging, inefficient equipment required more frequent service calls. The system’s pneumatic controls were not working effectively, causing comfort issues, and outside air ventilation was also inadequate, with the underground supply ductwork sometimes filling up with ground water, inhibiting proper air flow distribution. In addition, water flow issues existed with hot water piped to cold water applications. The Warrick County Jail sought to improve the work environment for employees and living conditions for inmates, mitigate indoor air quality issues, and increase energy efficiency to reduce cost and environmental impact.

Solution

Based on a long-term successful relationship with Warrick County Jail, Trane was asked to bid on the upgrade project. Trane offered a comprehensive solution that addressed immediate concerns, as well as long-term needs of the facility. To help fund the improvements, Trane suggested a PACT (Performance Agreement for Comfort from Trane) agreement. The performance contract allowed the jail to leverage future energy savings to finance the renovations, without upfront capital. The Trane solution began with an energy audit to identify, recommend and prioritize the energy conservation measures (ECMs) that would have the greatest impact, and included energy engineering design and management of the project construction.

Increasing efficiency and comfort

Coordinating the timing of the upgrade with a simultaneous roofing project, Trane replaced the jail’s aging HVAC systems in seventeen zones with fourteen reliable, high-efficiency Precedent™ rooftop units and three split systems. The kitchen exhaust hood was also replaced with a new make-up air unit. The new systems reduce energy use, improve ventilation, increase comfort, and are more accessible, making regular service and maintenance easier. As an added value, while working in the kitchen, Trane also provided a new ceiling and lights for the kitchen pantry at no additional cost.

Implementing water conservation measures

To address water flow issues, piping was updated and check valves were installed, balancing valves for five different branches throughout the jail. Water conservation measures were implemented with new shower heads installed in the jail cells and retrofit flow devices in the sinks, urinals and toilets. Trane technicians also reworked incorrectly installed hot/cold water piping, discovered during the upgrade.

Managing performance and energy costs

A Trane service agreement keeps the systems running at their best, with a comprehensive annual inspection and maintenance. The preventive maintenance refreshes the systems to factory specifications and helps facility managers plan budgets and avoid costly emergency service calls.

Warrick County Jail uses Intelligent Services for alarm notification, monitoring and data collection. Facility managers are immediately alerted to critical alarms, 24/7, to enable a fast response. In many instances, Trane experts can resolve issues remotely, reducing service call costs. For other issues, a service technician is quickly dispatched.

Continuously collecting and analyzing data provided via a Trane Tracer™ SC System Controller helps ensure that the building is performing at a high level, and enables real time decision-making to lower the jail’s total cost of ownership. Supported by system experts, Intelligent Services monitors energy consumption by area and benchmarks energy use to help the jail develop long-term strategies to reduce environmental impact. Trane-provided training enables facility managers to take full ownership over their systems to ensure optimal operation and energy savings.

Results

Using a PACT agreement to leverage future energy savings, Warrick County Jail implemented comprehensive renovations, which included upgrading its HVAC, air-handling and control systems, implementing water conservation measures, and using monitoring and data collection services. Project results are surpassing projections, with the jail reducing its energy consumption nearly 20 percent vs baseline year, saving over
six million gallons of water, for an $80,000 cost savings, and reducing pollution by 99 equivalent metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

“We look at the data, discuss what’s been accomplished and talk about additional ways to save,” said Roger Emmons, Warrick County Administrator. “We’re learning how to control temperature in certain areas of the building to reduce energy consumption. For example, by relaxing the set points by just one hour in the kitchen, we can save $900 a year. Small changes can add to our energy savings.”

“We’ve been really pleased with the new systems,” Emmons added. “Intelligent Services has been wonderful, and the savings ... those are great numbers!”