b'OPERATIONSCAE 79decision when overhauling the HVACthe ongoing work. For the public, its Total Terminal operations. Prior to this upgrade,probably news to them that we did some Program Benefit: managing equipment across differentof these because it was really, really systems posed significant challenges.seamless, in a lot of ways, he adds.Clean Energy Produced: NearlyThe programming was complicatedThe new building automation system 29 million KwH (solar offset ofand hard to control, Murray recalls. Byand variable frequency drives have already consumption & energy savingsusing an open-source binary system,greatly improved temperature regulation through efficiency) the airport ensured compatibility acrossacross the terminal. Murray interprets a Energy Equivalence: About 22.2all components, regardless of supplier.lack of feedback from customers as an million lbs. of coal burning avoided This approach not only simplified CAEsindication that they are comfortable. A control interface, it also simplifiedlot of the time, when you dont hear from Carbon Reduction: implementation.20,216 Metric Tons travelers, youre winning, he says.Testing for the new control system was meticulous, with sections of the terminalNew Tech, Less Energy replace those and then your centralundergoing rigorous checks to verifyOne of the most significant benefits plant is still kind of gumming everythingfunctionality before going live. To supportof CAEs recent upgrades has been up because its got inefficiencies or itsongoing maintenance and operationalincreased energy efficiency. A new bottling things up. So we definitely wentcontinuity, CAE recruited personnel withthermal storage system allows the from the center out. hands-on experience from the projectairport to produce chilled water at night The airport is using the nameimplementation. Thats been reallywhen electricity is cheaper, which led ECOproject for its current and near- helpful, Murray says. They had thatto substantial savings. More efficient air future capital improvements. ECOfamiliarity with the installation process,handlers and chillers, paired with improved stands for Enhanced Constructionbut also the technology and how we keepmechanical control systems to more Opportunities, emphasizing theit running.effectively handle the heating and cooling airports dual commitment to ecologicalHaving additional control and visibilitydemand, have also significantly reduced friendliness and economic efficiency. of what the systems are doing hasenergy consumption. Financial constraints played a significantbeen crucial to helping manage energyThe introduction of variable frequency role in the planning and executionconsumption more effectively, he adds.drives into HVAC components will phases, but subdividing the project inThis not only aligns with the airportsimprove system efficiency, reduce phases allowed the airport to right-sizesustainability goals, but also enhancespower surges and prolong system and the program to the available funding,comfort and reliability across the terminal.equipment lifespansa combination that Murray notes. Completing critical airfieldwill enhance reliability and save energy. infrastructure first allowed CAE to useMinimizing Disruptions Previously, CAE had a 550-horsepower back-to-back years of Airport ImprovementBy expanding into previously unusedmotor that used a hard start, which Program grants on terminal projects. areas, the teams could install newspiked power usage and the airports equipment and systems without interferingenergy bill. Project designers changed out System Updates with daily operations or negativelythat single motor for a nine-fan array for The first phase of updates addressed theaffecting the passenger experience. Forhigher efficiency and a slow, soft start. mechanical system, which was installed ininstance, space under the terminal thatThe team also replaced variable air 2016. It is split between two central plants,housed a flight kitchen years ago wasvolume systems across the airport that had concourse and terminal, and includesdeveloped into a new chiller plant beforebeen in place since 1996and installed additional thermal storage built in theany systems were taken out of service.them in areas where they had not been concourse. This allowed heating and cooling toadded during prior terminal renovations. continue throughout the renovation work.Variable air volume systems allow better CAE committed to using the AlertonIt also allowed designers to create new building management system in 2015on-demand regulation of temperature mechanical rooms that are more efficientacross the facility, providing a more to help monitor and control the HVACand spacious, Murray notes. systems, Murray notes. As new physicalcomfortable environment for travelers and infrastructure was updated, its variousConstruction occurred behind thetenants, while using less energy.data points were added to the software,scenes or after hours, and contractors which controls the sequencing of howhad contingencies at the ready. We hadThe Power of LEDthe equipment operates together, hetemporary systems there for us to bring onLighting upgrades, the second major comments. site if we had any outages, Murray says.phase of updates at CAE, began in 2014. This proactive approach meant thatAgain, the goals were reducing energy Implementing a unified and non- consumption and improving efficiency. proprietary control system was a pivotalpassengers were largely unaware of Murray reports that installing advanced AirportImprovement.comSeptember 2024'