"Working with Seiberlich Trane Energy Services allowed us to move quickly and confidently to utilize C-PACE to modernize our chiller plant and make this historic property more environmentally friendly."
About the Client
The historic DuPont Building has been a landmark in downtown Wilmington since 1908. The longtime headquarters for the DuPont Company, the 1,000,000 square foot building was purchased by The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) in 2017 to convert into a mixed-use facility consisting of a hotel, luxury apartments, a theater, retail, and offices.
BPG partnered with Seiberlich Trane Energy Services to modernize the facility’s infrastructure and improve tenant comfort. The project leveraged Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, the first project to do so in the state of Delaware.
Project Objectives
- Reduction in utility spends
- Modernize building with new HVAC equipment
- Increase tenant comfort level
Energy Conservation Measures Installed
- New high-efficiency centfigual chillers
- New chiller plant automation system
- Cooling tower refurbishment & system upgrades
- Convert chilled water pumps to variable flow
- New timing switches on steam system
- Boiler system insulation
- Smart exhaust control system on kitchen hoods
- Automated individual tenant submetering
- Transition to low GWP refrigerants
Energy Savings Results
A big feature of the modernization was replacing three 60 year old chillers with new Trane high-efficiency centrifugal chillers using low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. The upgrades will save the property owner an estimated $14.2 million over the lifespan of the equipment and reduce emissions by 8,190 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
Delivered annual energy savings and demand reduction:
$14.2MM Total
Annual Environmental Impact of Project
The annual environmental impact of the project included a 8,190 ton reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions.