Network Demand Management Case Study Exchange Hotel, Townsville June 2011
Network Demand Management Case Study Exchange Hotel, Townsville Key challenge Owners of the Exchange Hotel wanted to refurbish the 1882 building to increase the useable floor space by 30 per cent and add a new commercial kitchen and beer garden. They hoped this would result in a 40 per cent increase in patron numbers. To refurbish and continue its business-as-usual approach would require a doubling of the power supply capacity from 130kVA to 260kVA, necessitating a costly upgrade to the mains supply and building switchboard. The Exchange Hotel a 21 st Century Hotel within a 1882 building. Bonus outcome The Exchange Hotel is now a user-friendly 21 st Century hotel in an 1882 building, employing the latest in sustainable technologies and systems. The hotel is a premium venue, regularly attracting more than 800 patrons to its four bars, restaurant and beer garden, with inbuilt energy management and site load-side management strategies to keep the site under the existing power supply limits of 130kVA. Measurement and Verification (M&V) Results Table Business as usual Post EMC implementation Savings / annum Energy consumption (kwh) 787,000 435,000 45% Demand (KVA) 244 122 50% Greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes) 803 444 359 tonnes (80 small cars) Operating & maintenance costs $ 117,000 $ 65,100 44% Life Cycle Cost (25 Years) $ 7,570,000 $ 5,335,000 $89,400 Business as usual scenario To continue business-as-usual operations following the refurbishment would have required a $150,000 upgrade of the power supply from 130kVA to 260kVA in line with the supply requirement of most modern taverns. In addition, the mains connection to the building would have required upgrading, along with the main switchboard.
Energy Management Plan overview To keep demand within the constraints of the existing supply agreement, the Exchange Hotel would employ a mix of electric and LPG gas technologies and systems to flatten its electrical demand profile. Ergon Energy assisted by offering an incentive payment for the hotel s commitment to reduce demand on the network by potentially 122kVA. Demand Management Solution To minimise electrical demand, the design solution combined a number of initiatives including: building refurbishment using lightweight, heavily insulated construction where practical LED lighting (68% energy savings of BAU) central refrigeration plant with the ability to unload and the power supply spread over all 3-phases enthalpy heat recovery systems on incoming outdoor air (70% energy saving on cooling the fresh air) All air-conditioners are monitored via this central display unit in the manager s office. split-ducted commercial air-conditioning plant with two-stage cooling the first via a digital inverter scroll compressor and the second via a standard compressor used for synchronised load shedding Building Management System that monitors the power supply to the site and load sheds energy consumption by: - turning on air curtains to minimise cooled air loss through doorways - elevating air-conditioning temperatures from 23 0 C to 26 0 C, and - dropping out second stage of cooling on each air-conditioning plant for 10 minutes with a synchronised rotation ceiling fans to assist cooling effect with air movement LP gas cooking appliances, and LP gas hot water and reticulation to dishwashers and glass washers. Background The Exchange Hotel in the heart of Townsville s entertainment precinct in Flinders Street East was purchased by new owners in 2008. While its original form had largely been retained, little of its original fabric remained. It required major structural surgery to arrest the deterioration of the frame and meet current safety standards and building codes. The layout of the hotel, with its four separate bar areas, each with its own refrigeration unit and service area, prevented efficient workflows and staffing levels. Even though it was not heritage listed, the new owners decided against demolition and instead chose to restore some of the hotel s yesteryear charm and style. The original Exchange Hotel was built in 1869, before being destroyed by fire in 1881. The hotel was rebuilt in 1882, becoming the first brick hotel in the city and setting new building standards.
It was considered a first-class establishment with three parlours, a dining room and a billiard room on the ground floor (together with three shops at its northeastern end) and two parlours and 20 bedrooms on the first floor. In the 1890s, a verandah was added to the upper level. Around the 1960s, substantial alterations were made to the main façade and interior and in the 1980s the hotel again underwent major renovations. Results Measurement and verification of the demand savings by an independent certifier confirmed the hotel had reduced demand by 122kVA, or 50 per cent, over the business-as-usual solution using an estimated power factor of 0.9. The energy infrastructure, including airconditioning, refrigeration units, a heat exchange unit and gas hot water unit were placed on the roof to save space. Cost The customer invested $3,500,000 in the refurbishment. Ergon Energy contributed $28,060 on delivery of the customer s commitment to reduce demand by 122kVA. Partners NORDEV Contractors Architects: Ryder Hampton Mechanical Engineers: McClintock Engineering Group Builder: RCQ Constructions Mechanical Contractor: Peak ARE Pty Ltd Electrical Contractor: GTL Electrical M&V: Energy Decisions Customer testimonial The concept of energy conservation was a very high priority in our design. A traditional design and construct upgrade would have had significant civil engineering components, which would have escalated the total cost to over $500,000. Ceiling fans assist with the cooling effect. Air curtains minimise cooled air loss through doorways. The cost of the internal load shedding arrangements will be offset by the reduction in power consumption, so we considered it a wise investment at the time and even more so with rising power usage rates.
The limited time of disruption in air-conditioning of certain parts of the venue due to raised temperature control have not had a significant impact on patron comfort so we would consider the arrangements to be a complete success. Managing Director NORDEV Construction Pty Ltd Greg Rain Awards QHA Awards for Excellence 2010, best redeveloped licensed premises above $2 million.