Virginia Department of Forensic Science Receives Energy Efficiency Leader Award from Trane
Trane recognizes Virginia Department of Forensic Science for building improvements expected to save more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars annually
Richmond, Va., Nov. 3, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Trane, a leading global provider of indoor solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, presented its Energy Efficiency Leader Award to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) on Oct. 29. Each year, Trane recognizes organizations which have shown significant achievements in efficiency and sustainability with its Energy Efficiency Leader Award.
Virginia DFS was chosen as the 2015 award recipient due to its outstanding commitment to implementing best practices in energy efficiency and sustainability. The award was presented at the DFS Central Laboratory in Richmond, Virginia. Trane is recognizing DFS, a nationally accredited forensic laboratory system, for sustainably improving the air quality within its Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke and Manassas facilities, and helping increase employee comfort and productivity while reducing the state’s environmental impact.
DFS leaders expect that the improvements, when completed later this year, will reduce energy consumption by over 40 percent and save more than $1 million of taxpayer dollars in annual energy and operating costs. The project also supports Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s 2014 Virginia Energy Plan on reducing energy consumption in state buildings and his Executive Order 31 which directs state agencies to reduce their electricity consumption in state buildings by 15 percent by 2017.
Improvements to four buildings
Upgrades were needed in the four buildings to minimize energy demand and consumption, to update heating plants at the Roanoke, Richmond and Norfolk facilities and to ensure building exhaust redundancy in the Richmond facility.
Nearly 300 employees work in the four buildings which total more than 500,000 square feet. DFS provides forensic services to more than 400 law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia while remaining independent of any of them.
DFS funded the improvements with a performance contract via the Department of General Services energy services company program for public bodies of the Commonwealth. The performance contract allowed DFS to use future energy and operational savings to finance the infrastructure improvements up front. Performance contracting is a project delivery method that provides measurable business results to support strategic business objectives with reduced or eliminated capital funding requirements.
Upgrades to the four DFS buildings include ventilation air optimization, energy efficient fume hood retrofits, installation of redundant laboratory exhaust system, controls system optimization and chilled water plant improvements. The project team also replaced the heating plant in the Central laboratory in Richmond and the Eastern laboratory in Norfolk and installed a small summertime boiler in the Roanoke lab to improve heating plant performance and reset the life cycle.
To help make sure that updated systems continue to run at optimal efficiency, DFS has incorporated an energy performance offering that pairs expertise from a services team with ongoing data monitoring. The process monitors and analyzes data from approximately 100 sub-meters across the DFS asset portfolio so that the facilities team can be informed when systems need attention.
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About Ingersoll Rand and Trane
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com or www.trane.com.
Contacts
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand
Mary Beth Kime
704.534.1865, MaryBethKime@irco.com
Minda Kuckuck
515.978.3585, mindak@2rm.com
