Homestead-Wakefield Elementary

Summary

The 50-year-old Homestead-Wakefield Elementary school is part of the Harford County Public School District. With more than 1,000 students, the school has been identified as one of the three largest elementary schools in Maryland. The district’s mission to nurture and inspire learning is evident at Homestead-Wakefield, as assessments continue to show outstanding student achievement and continuous improvement.

Challenge

Installed in the 1960s, the HVAC system at Homestead- Wakefield Elementary school was reaching the end of its useful life, compromising the comfort of students, teachers and staff. In order to maintain an optimal learning environment in which to carry out its mission, the school sought to quickly replace its failing reciprocating chiller, before the cooling season began.

Solution

Having worked with Trane on other projects within the school district, the Harford County facilities manager contacted Trane regarding their HVAC challenge. Knowing speed of installation was paramount, Trane recommended that the school use The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) for an easier and faster resolution.

TCPN allows large and small government entities such as schools, colleges, cities, counties and non-profits to leverage their purchasing power to ensure they are getting a good value on products and services. All TCPN contracts are competitively bid and evaluated by a government entity. Contracts are awarded to national vendors in accordance with purchasing procedures mandated by state procurement laws and regulation, and are based on quality, proven performance, customer satisfaction and pricing. Using TCPN saved Homestead-Wakefield the time of developing a request for bid, bidding out the project and evaluating potential suppliers, while also ensuring them the best value.

Improving reliability and efficiency

Trane developed a chiller plant optimization plan that included replacing the failing chiller with a high efficiency, 100-ton Trane Water-Cooled Series R™ Chiller - Model RTWD. The advanced design and low speed/direct drive compressor of the RTWD helical rotary chiller provide the school high reliability and improved energy efficiency. The chiller features two compressors and refrigeration circuits for added redundancy. With a compact design so narrow it can actually fit through a standard door opening, the RTWD was easy to install, helping the school to meet its tight deadlines.

Optimizing chiller performance

A Trane Tracer™ SC System Controller allows Homestead- Wakefield facility managers to access their HVAC system from any web-enabled device such as a personal computer, smartphone or tablet, whether they are in the office or off-site. Using both Trane equipment and controls made for a seamless integration and faster installation. Facility managers can use the Tracer SC for scheduling system operations to increase energy efficiency, monitoring data for optimal performance and troubleshooting for quick issue resolution.

Results

Using TCPN to speed the procurement process, Homestead- Wakefield Elementary was able to replace its aging chiller with a high efficiency 100-ton Trane RTWD Water-Cooled Series R™ Chiller, prior to the onset of warm weather. A web-enabled Trane Tracer SC System Controller provides convenient, remote system access to the HVAC system, allowing facility managers to optimize building performance and manage energy consumption. The upgrades are providing a comfortable environment that students, teachers and staff can count on to enhance learning.

“Trane submitted the TCPN contract for a turnkey replacement of an existing chiller at Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School and met all our requirements with no problems,” said Mohanjeet Kohli, assistant supervisor of facilities management-engineering, Harford County Public School District, Division of Planning & Construction. “It was a pleasure working with the company, and we look forward to future projects.”

About Homestead-Wakefield Elementary

Using The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) helps ensure Harford County Public School District the best value for each dollar they spend. A 100-ton high efficiency Trane water-cooled chiller provides Homestead-Wakefield Elementary with a comfortable classroom environment and energy savings.