SECOND QUARTER 2010
VOLUME 96
NUMBER 2
District
Energy
Departments
Chair’s Message
Juan Ontiveros, Executive Director of
Utilities and Energy Management,
The University of Texas at Austin
4 President’s Message
Robert P. Thornton, President,
International District Energy Association
23 Creating An Efficient Energy Future:
IDEA’s 101st Annual Conference
& Trade Show
41 “Repowering” in Reno:
Campus conference focuses
on challenges, opportunities
45 Industry News
60 People in the News
61 From a Legal Perspective
Regulators Are People Too:
Approach them like that
Alan Robbins, Esq., Jennings Strouss
& Salmon PLC
63 LEED® + District Energy
Reporting From Reno: Discussions
reflect both frustration and hope
Tim Griffin, PE, LEED AP, IDEA
USGBC Liaison
66 Inside Insights
Magnetic Couplings: A peachy
‘new’ flavor for ASDs?
Steve Tredinnick, PE, Syska
Hennessy Group
68 Members Speak Out
Global Warming: Bad for District Energy?
David W. Wade, PE, RDA
Engineering Inc.
71 Energy and Environmental Policy
Portfolio Standards: Status and
implications for district energy
Mark Spurr, IDEA Legislative Director
74 Customer Closeup
Legg Mason Tower’s Sustainable Design
Embodies Baltimore’s Waterfront
Revitalization
75 Meet Our Advertisers
76 Calendar of Events/Dates
to Remember
3
18 Back to the Future: Old energy integrates with new
in Indianapolis
David J. Toombs, General Manager, Citizens Thermal
Sometimes charting the best course for the future begins with a look at the past. Such is the
experience of Citizens Thermal of Indianapolis, which recently went “back to basics” as it planned
system improvements to maximize efficiency and customer service. After reviewing past operations,
Citizens reinstated two former system features – condensate return and back-pressure turbines –
that will help the company ensure its long-term success.
Cover
Features
14 Managing Multiple Chilled-Water Plants: A promising
new control strategy
Timothy M. Anderson, PE, LEED AP, Principal, Applied Engineering Services Inc.
Many district cooling systems have expanded using unmanned, remotely managed satellite plants.
To maintain the pumping load balance between satellites and main plants, most systems use
differential pressure control. But there is another option: pump control using a flow meter as
the sensing input, a method working well in Indianapolis.
31 Del Monte’s Super Boiler: Ultra-efficient unit bears fruit,
reducing emissions
Robert P. Benz, PE, President, Benz Air Engineering Co. Inc.
The focus on energy savings and the environment has led to research and development of
an ultra-efficient, ultra-low-emissions “Super Boiler” – originally just a concept of the U.S.
Department of Energy. Del Monte Foods has brought the idea to life on the plant floor,
creating an innovative boiler system that is a model for others.
35 A Pioneering Partnership in China: Foreign investment
spurs district heating growth
Timothée Prenez, Project Officer, Dalkia Asia Pte. Ltd.
In cities across China, small coal-fired block “boiler houses” are the main heating source. While
the government has long tried to encourage district heating development as a cleaner heating
alternative, progress is finally being made as opportunities for foreign investment have opened
up. Dalkia is a pioneer in the market, modernizing and expanding the system in Jiamusi.
10% POST
CONSUMER
WASTE
ON THE COVER:
Lucas Oil Stadium, a Citizens Thermal
customer, is home to the NFL’s Indianapolis
Colts. The building has a retractable roof and
features spectacular views of the Indianapolis
skyline through the operable north window.
It is connected to the newly expanded
convention center and several hotels and was
home to the NCAA Final Four in early April.
Photo ©Bayanote Photography, Indianapolis.
