Optimum Energy Software Improves HVAC Energy Efficiency at Mineta San José International Airport

April 09, 2009

OptimumHVAC Software Reduced the Airport's Carbon Footprint by Nearly 300,000 Pounds in First Five Months SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Optimum Energy LLC, provider of Ultra High Performance HVAC software solutions that set a new standard in energy efficiency, today announced the successful commissioning of its OptimumHVAC software at Mineta San José International Airport (SJC). In the first five months of operation, the Airport's HVAC system has saved more than 235,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, which equates to utility savings of more than $35,000, and a carbon footprint reduction of nearly 300,000 pounds CO2. "The City of San Jose is committed to finding creative ways to reduce our operating costs and improve our environmental performance," said Patrick Tonna, SJC Deputy Director for Facilities and Engineering. "HVAC optimization software has helped us toward our goal to achieve airport LEED sustainability certification by reducing our energy use, while both maintaining a comfortable building for our customers and enhancing the efficiency of our staff and tenants." Engineering services firm WSP Flack + Kurtz managed the addition of a new 1,100-ton chiller unit to the SJC facility's central plant, and upgrade of SJC's two existing 450-ton chillers with installation of variable frequency drives and readjustment of the existing air handling units. Once the central plant updates were complete, OptimumLOOP software was installed. In the first five months of operation, the San Jose Airport chiller plant reduced its average kW/ton from 1.23 kW/ton to 0.65 kW/ton, a 47 percent reduction. "The success of our OptimumLOOP software at the San Jose Airport helps prove that Optimum Energy's approach to energy efficiency in commercial facilities is leading to a paradigm shift in HVAC energy efficiency," said Nathan Rothman, President and CEO of Optimum Energy. "The San Jose Airport installation is phenomenal in that we're already seeing outstanding results even through the winter months and Terminal B is not yet open. Since OptimumHVAC optimizes performance continuously based on real-time demand, we expect the energy savings to be even greater as the weather warms up and the facility is completed and fully utilized."

More