NYC DCAS Improves Energy Efficiency with Thermaxx Jackets

Thermaxx Jackets has been awarded a Contract with the NYC Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services for their Innovative Demonstrations for Energy Adaptability (IDEA) program. The IDEA program seeks to leverage the potential of innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from City government buildings.

About DCAS Energy Management

DCAS Energy Management (DEM) is responsible for achieving the City’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide 80 percent by 2050 over a 2005 baseline, as outlined in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s climate action plan: One City: Built to Last.

To provide leadership to meet this overall goal, the City has set for itself the goal of reducing GHG emissions from City government buildings 35 percent by 2025.

DEM pays utility accounts that serve more than 4,000 buildings.

Thermaxx Jackets will be demonstrating its technology in four New York City buildings:

• • 1 Centre St

• • 60 Centre St

• • 125 Worth St

• PS K 126-242 Leonard St

Phase 1a
Mechanical Insulation Assessment

Thermaxx used its proprietary iOS app to perform a detailed pipe insulation energy survey. The field engineers performing the survey focused on steam and steam condensate.  They inspected the four sites and identified heating pipes that were missing insulation. During the survey, they marked each component with an item number and captured the following information:

• • Location

• • Application Type

• • Operating Pressure

• • Component Type

• • Component Size

• • Temperature

• • Proposed Insulation Thickness

• • Jacket Material Hot Side

• • Jacket Material Cold Side

• Component Image

Phase 1b
Incentive Investigation

The Thermaxx engineers used the survey information to calculate the BTU loss based on the missing information. Thermaxx filled out an incentive application for PS K 126-242 Leonard St. to participate in National Grid’s prescriptive incentive program.

Phase 2
Install Insulation and Smart Sensors for Measurement and Verification

Thermaxx completed the insulation installation and installed Smart Sensors for measurement and verification. Smart Sensors calculate energy savings using the heat flow calculation method described in ASTM C680 titled, Standard Practices for Determination of Heat Gain or Loss and the Surface Temperature of Insulated Piping on Equipment Systems by the Use of a Computer System.  This is the same method employed by NAIMA’s 3E Plus software, the most widely accepted and scrutinized solution for estimating heat loss in the insulation industry.

The sensors take readings every 30 minutes of the incoming temperature (inside of the jacket), outgoing temperature (inside of the jacket), touch temperature (on the jacket surface), and ambient temperature (1 ft. from the jacket surface).  These temperatures and the component surface area are provided as inputs per ASTM C680. The heat loss is calculated and updated every 30 minutes to provide a running total of true energy savings based on operational and environmental conditions.

Phase 3
Asset Management and Internet of Things (IoT)

Each of the Thermaxx Jackets are tagged with an anodized aluminum tag (Slate). The Slate is a laser-etched tag with an ID number and a QR code. The QR code is linked to a Slate PageTM – a website that contains unique removable insulation jacket data valuable to the end user. The user can access information on the insulation jacket material, data sheets, warranty information, install instructions, and more.

Phase 4
Verification of Energy Savings with CUNY Building Performance Lab

CUNY Building Performance Lab will be working with the Thermaxx Jackets engineering team to evaluate the BTU savings using the temperature measurements captured and displayed on the energy savings web portal.

Phase 5
Operation and Maintenance

Thermaxx Jackets will use Slates to document quarterly inspections of the jackets and sensors. The Thermaxx app is used to scan the QR code on the Slate attached to the Thermaxx Insulation Jacket. The user is then directed to a web portal with historical data for that jacket.  The user also has the ability to add notes, take photos with timestamps, and edit information as desired.

The Thermaxx smartphone app will be an integral part of the projects O&M program.  The technician managing the inspection will scan each jacket with the app.  They will document that the jacket has been inspected by taking a photo with a timestamp.  If any jackets have been removed or are not installed properly, the technician will re-install them. The inspection information will be captured on the Slate Page web portal and be available for CUNY BPL  Staff and the DCAS project manager  to review from their desks.

Phase 6
Demonstration completion and final performance analysis

After the 12 demonstration period of performance and measurement/verification, Thermaxx Jackets, DCAS and The CUNY Building Performance Lab will issue a final report on the energy saving findings.

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