GEM Energy Provides Comprehensive Approach to Facility and Energy Management for Hylant Building Owners The Hylant Building has been an integral part of the downtown Toledo skyline since it was built in 1959. The 15-story building has represented its city both as a center of business, and as a symbol of Toledo’s heritage, featuring more than 155,000 square feet of glass, one of Northwest Ohio’s signature products. With a downtown resurgence underway nearly 60 years later, reinvestment was in order for the more than 235,000-square-foot ofgice facility. In 2017, the Hylant building owners called on the experience and expertise of GEM Energy and the other Rudolph Libbe Group companies to handle multiple construction and energy projects as well as ongoing maintenance and tenant management. Our holistic, multi-discipline team worked closely with Hylant to develop a plan for reshaping the building’s future while drawing on its past as a landmark for Toledo-area businesses. SOLVING FACILITY, HVAC AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT ISSUES The Hylant Building’s HVAC system was once a highlight of the property. A 1960 article in the Toledo Blade touted its ability to handle 200,000 cubic feet of air per minute, in peak operating periods. In response to the project criteria But by the time GEM Energy took over management of the building, the and building challenges, the Rudolph HVAC system and other facility infrastructure, such as lighting and building Libbe Group ofgered a comprehensive automation, were signifjcantly outdated, leading to extremely inefgicient approach to addressing these issues, and costly operations. based on four key pillars: 1. FACILITY AND HVAC GEM Energy developed and implemented an energy solution plan, EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT including improvements for building automation, HVAC, lighting, and utility procurement. Budgets for primary infrastructure were 2. ENERGY MANAGEMENT supplemented via PACE fjnancing and First Energy utility incentives. 3. TENANT MANAGEMENT Hylant is realizing savings of more than $170,000 in annual energy related 4. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES operating costs, which is a 31% decrease in utility expense and an 11% operating expense reduction. Hylant was also able to reduce its non- energy operating expenses by 3.3%. As part of continuous improvement, By adhering to these four pillars, a further energy projects are being evaluated and implemented when comprehensive plan was developed deemed benefjcial. In addition to decreasing energy expenses, the energy to update and improve the physical management efgorts to-date have contributed to greater budget certainty facility and reduce the Hylant Building’s and risk mitigation due to less exposure to volatile energy markets. cost of operation.
The comprehensive approach meant all of these benefjts came to bear on Afuer just a year under RLG’s management, the project nearly simultaneously, a fact both recognized and appreciated Hylant realized: by Hylant’s Senior Operations Analyst, who said: • A total savings of more than $171,000 in energy-related GEM Energy and the Rudolph Libbe Group have done a operating costs; great job for us, with not only the management side of the • A decrease of 31% in its energy- building, but the mechanical aspects, the upgrades, the related operating costs; and leasing, the accounting, and also energy aspects. They are • An 11% operating expense very proactive with energy procurement and efgiciency projects. We’ve had positive results from the work they’ve reduction. done and couldn’t be happier. And through benchmarking established via an energy audit, overall energy use at the Hylant Building was expected to decrease GEM Energy developed and implemented a comprehensive energy more than 21% in the same time period. solution plan, including improvements for building automation, HVAC, lighting, and energy procurement. The team also helped review PACE fjnancing options and secure First Energy utility incentives. Afuer one year of managing the building, Hylant is realizing a total savings of $171,700 in energy related operating costs, this equates to a 31% decrease in utility expense and an 11% operating expense reduction. Hylant was also able to reduce its non- energy operating expenses by 3.3%. As part of continuous improvement, further energy projects are always being evaluated and implemented when deemed benefjcial. In addition to decreasing energy expenses, the energy management efgorts to-date have contributed to greater budget certainty and risk mitigation due to less exposure to volatile energy markets. While working closely with the Hylant Operations team, GEM Energy was also able to mitigate excess costs in other areas including: • Reviewed all supplier arrangements and optimized scope of services; negotiated energy supply, security, elevator maintenance, paper products, cleaning, trash, landscaping and snow removal to fjnd the best value • Corrected utility and cell phone billing errors. • Eliminated duplicate maintenance contracts. • Increased supplier accountability. Learn more at RLGbuilds.com 866.720.2700 Toledo | Cleveland | Lima | Detroit
COMBINED HEAT & POWER INDUSTRIAL R & D CENTER SUPPLEMENTS GRID WITH CHP Acquiring enough power from the local electrical grid is a key utility consideration for many businesses and organizations. Such was the case for a corporate industrial research and development center . Based in a rural area, this facility was the largest power user for the local energy company. During the course of adding a new research and development process to the 300,000-square- foot building, the company conducted a thorough analysis of the power and infrastructure required. It was determined the facility would need to triple its electrical use during peak power times. However, the utility company could only double the facility’s electrical supply, leaving a gap between the power available and what the facility GEM Energy installed the Capstone 1000 needed to implement its new process. What’s more, the increased kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) capacity from the utility would take several months and over a million packaged system for the facility’s dollars to install and the facility would still be short of its ultimate goal. electrical and hot water heating needs. 6842 COMMODORE DRIVE | WALBRIDGE , OH 43465 | PHONE: 866.720.2700 RLGbuilds.com
COMBINED HEAT & POWER ENERGY GAP BRIDGED WITH COMBINED HEAT & POWER Faced with this shortage, the company’s electrical infrastructure group began to search for a low maintenance, modular on-site power generation option. The facility’s new process would be implemented in stages, and to meet the increased electrical needs of the new process, it was preferred that the accompanying power solution could also be brought on line in phases. To meet these needs, GEM Energy installed the Capstone 1000 kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) packaged system for the facility’s electrical and hot water heating needs. In addition to the electric power output, this system provides 4.1 million BTUs of hot water every hour, more than enough to satisfy the resource needs of the new R&D process. Though many building owners look at CHP systems as a way to save on their utility costs and serve as back-up power, in this case the CHP system also served as the true add-on power source for the facility’s new processes. The modular equipment and installation approach available on this particular system appealed to the company’s leadership, giving them the option to add more units to handle increased load when they were needed. ALL ASPECTS OF CHP PROJECT HANDLED BY GEM ENERGY, FROM FUNDING TO OPERATION Ultimately, the facility group selected the GEM Energy proposal of the Capstone microturbine CHP system because of the short design and installation timeframe of six months. Other competitive CHP systems could not be delivered and installed in a similar timeframe, but GEM Energy’s experienced turnkey development proved to be the difgerence. In addition to coordinating the design and specifications for the CHP system used at the facility, GEM Energy handled the process of obtaining incentives for the client. Conducting every step of the application and program process, GEM Energy secured s tate incentive s to support the installation of energy-efficient, grid-connected CHP systems up to three megawatts that are capable of powering critical facility loads during a utility outage. The modular 1,000 kW microturbine CHP system is now in place , with the infrastructure to expand to up to 3,000 kW as the R&D process and other facility needs grow. The modular design of the installed Capstone CHP package enables the CHP to efficiently support the process as it expands, even at low load levels of 20 to 40%. With the first phase of the facility’s new research and development process now up and running, the electrical supply from the CHP system is currently exceeding the expectations of the company’s leadership and providing reliable power. GEM ENERGY IS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ON-SITE POWER GEM Energy is the chosen energy partner for multiple commercial and industrial facilities, due in large part to the fact that every aspect of an on-site power installation is handled by GEM Energy. From assessing and evaluating the facility’s energy use, to configuring the right system, to structuring the right funding options, to installing and maintaining your system, GEM Energy brings year of experience, and the right resources to implement an on-site power system that meets your goals. RLGbuilds.com 6842 COMMODORE DRIVE | WALBRIDGE, OH 43465 | PHONE: 866.720.2700
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