Success Stories

Cooling Towers

Business: Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis)

Number of Employees: 110

Vignette

• Upgraded its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Four controls were added to sense outside air temperature and adjust the heating and cooling system accordingly. A new direct digitally controlled fan with variable speed intake was installed to increase the use of "free" outside air to cool the building during morning and evening hours. The increased fresh air intake into the building is expected to improve indoor air quality as well as employee comfort and productivity, while reducing energy bills. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $11,500/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 123,000 kWh/year and 12,921 therms (natural gas)/year.
• Discovered that the float valve on the roof-top cooling tower was stuck in the ‘open’ position and was flooding the cooling tower with wasted water. Fixing the float valve cut water use by 64%. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $2,900/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 2,480,000 gallons/year.

Case Study

None

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Business: Graphic Sciences (Portland)

Number of Employees: unknown

Vignette

As part of an ink manufacturing process, Graphic Sciences added a cooling tower to the pigment grinding process. This allows most of the cooling water to be reused, cutting water use by 80%. The installation paid for itself in a matter of months, helping to make lower cost ink of the same quality using less water. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 2,500,000 gallons/year.

Case Study

• Call the City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development, 503-823-7222.

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