Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
7/17/2015
The Y-12 National Security Complex is exercising “energy savings performance contracts” (ESPCs) that include replacing dilapidated wooden cooling towers at the chiller plant with higher-efficiency towers, swapping existing steam lines with natural gas lines, and adding a new compressed air facility on the site’s east end, according to a July 9 press release from facility manager Consolidated Nuclear Security. The contracts were started as part of a national laboratory-wide initiative to improve energy efficiency and to support infrastructure renewal without up-front capital. When completed this summer, the chiller plant upgrade at Building 9767-10 will improve the efficiency and reliability of the system that provides cooled water for air conditioning and dehumidification, the release states. “The dilapidated wooden cooling towers are being replaced with modern, high-efficiency towers, and three new chillers have been installed,” Consolidated Nuclear Security said. “As part of the upgrades, the number of pumps was reduced by half, resulting in a savings of 10,747 [megawatt hours] annually.”
The conversion of steam lines to natural gas lines at Y-12 involves running more than 13,000 feet of the gas lines to nine facilities on the east and west ends of the site, according to the release. Workers continue to construct lines on Y-12’s west end, while east end work is complete. Cutting off steam lines will reduce the steam distribution footprint, associated maintenance, and demand on the central steam plant, and the project is expected to save 149,733 MBtu of natural gas. To ensure reliability of the existing steam plant, another contract directs the completion of a new compressed air facility at Y-12’s east end that is planned to be operational by fall 2015, the release states. The facility will include a “state-of-the-art” Utilities Operator Control room where six chilled water plants, steam production, and other facilities can be monitored.
Johnson Controls Inc. manages Y-12’s five “main” ESPC contracts, including those mentioned above. “We wouldn’t have the budget to do this work at Y-12 without an ESPC,” Y-12 Senior Director of Infrastructure and Projects management Dan Glenn said in the release. “More money becomes available because it is tied to energy savings. We try to leverage all funding opportunities to improve the infrastructure to make it more reliable and reduce the maintenance needs of the site.” CNS did not respond to NS&D Monitor requests for contract cost estimates.
