Hennepin County Forensic Science Building

Location: Hennepin County, Minneapolis, MN
Installing Contractor: Jaytech
Equipment Supplier: SVL
Performance Verifier: CenterPoint Energy

Highlights

  • The utilities measured 34.8% efficiency improvement after installation the of Hydromx.
  • The addition of Hydromx to the run-around loop qualified for both gas and electric rebates with a project payback of just under ten months.

Hydromx Hydronic FluidBackground

The Hennepin County Forensic Crime Lab is one of six accredited crime labs in Minnesota. It provides forensic DNA, firearm examination, a fingerprint database, crime scene processing, and other forensic services.

Challenge

Hennepin County installed a heat recovery loop inside its Forensic Science Building in early 2018. Due to various chemicals in the building and the services provided, the building is heated and cooled with 100% outside air. Typically, this is a costly way to condition a building. The facility runs 24/7 and has 14,000 CFM of outside air and 11,000 CFM of exhaust air through the heat recovery coils.

Solution

After learning about Hydromx’s efficiency gain over glycol, Hennepin County decided to switch from glycol to Hydromx to improve the energy recovery performance.

Results

CenterPoint Energy, the natural gas utility, reviewed the performance of Hydromx at the end of the analysis period. Energy engineers calculated the effectiveness of the heat recovery coils during both heating and cooling seasons. After the installation of Hydromx, the effectiveness of the heat recovery coils improved by 34.8%. 

CenterPoint and Xcel Energy, the electric utility, have reviewed the increase in performance and the addition of Hydromx to the run-around loop qualified for both gas and electric rebates. The cooling savings resulted in a $514 rebate from Xcel Energy. The heating rebate should have been $1,213; however, it was “clipped” to $321 due to CenterPoint’s limit of a minimum 1-year pay pack for natural gas savings. These savings resulted in a project payback of just under ten months.

SVL Logo
About SVL, Inc.
SVL, Inc. is a Midwest equipment manufacturer’s representative providing HVAC solutions to scale for over 50 years. Striving to provide premier solutions that integrate into every project. Through humble beginnings and maintaining a small business mentality, SVL knows the value of customer relationships. Which is why they go the extra mile to exceed expectations.

Jaytech Logo
About Jaytech, Inc.
Jaytech, Inc. is one of the largest and most innovative independent water management solution providers in the United States. Established in 1977, its mission has been to maintain efficiency and longevity of water-using heating and cooling equipment for industrial, process, commercial, and institutional interests.