Project Title: Polar Power
You Tube video: How Polar Power Works
Summary of Project:
Provide a general summary of the project. Make sure to include a rationale for why this idea has strategic
importance at this time.
Why use electricity to power mechanical, compressor-based refrigeration systems when cold, fresh air
can cool a refrigerated space for free? The Freeaire Polar Power® system’s components monitor outside
and inside temperatures and bring, fresh, filtered outside air into a cooler during the winter. When
outside air is used for cooling, conventional mechanical refrigeration system components are shut off
and do not consume any energy. The savings in energy, reduced wear and tear on system components
and money are significant.
Introduction and Background:
Describe in detail the background, context, importance, and value of this project.
Polar Power® allows the use of cold outside air to cool a space for approximately 120 to 130 days a year
in Burlington. Like wind and solar energy, this “polar energy” is a natural and endlessly renewable
source of energy. Polar Power® is appropriate for any refrigerated space of 1,000 cubic feet or more.
Refrigeration has a significant energy footprint on UVM’s campus and a lot of the refrigeration is in
campus dining, with a total of 44 coolers and freezers. Dining Services already prioritizes energy efficient
equipment but is excited about the innovative Freeaire technology that can increase efficiency of
refrigerators new and old. The Freeaire system can reduce energy use up to 50% per cooler.
Methodology and Timeframe:
How will the idea be carried out? Which individuals and offices will be involved? How long with the project take to
complete, and what is the timeframe for each key phase? Include information on long-term maintenance and
accountability.
A walk-through assessment of existing walk-in coolers on campus and their eligibility for a retrofit was
completed on 10/25/13. The retrofit itself only takes one week per cooler. Although the work can be
done without shutting down the system, it would be safer and easier to schedule the work during the
summer or a break period when the dining unit is not operational. Installation would be completed by
Green Tech Refrigeration. Preventative maintenance would be included in KC Mechanical’s regular
schedule.
Below are the three eligible coolers in order of eligibility:
1. Davis Center Marketplace: This cooler is on the second floor, is the appropriate size and is
against an exterior brick wall facing Main Street. The cooler has two evaporator units.
2. Given Atrium: This location will be undergoing renovations May-July 2014. The refrigeration/
freezer combo is located close to an exterior wall but is currently <1000 ft3. The two coolers
could possibly be expanded during renovation to make Polar Power® practical. However, Given
is a historic building so there may be difficulties with altering an exterior wall.
3. Waterman: This cooler is appropriately sized but is located in the basement of Waterman and it
is unclear what the exterior access to the unit looks like. If outdoor access is feasible, this unit
1
would be an ideal candidate. However, like Given, Waterman is also a historic building which
may be a challenge.
Benefits and Results:
Describe the educational, environmental, and economic benefits this project will provide (for example, energy
savings, return on investment, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, learning opportunities and outcomes, or
any other broader impacts on the university community).
Investigating innovative ways to decrease the energy use of our campus food system is a step in the
right direction to food security for our university. The payback for the system is usually 1-5 years
depending on the complexity of installation. The return can be 2-10 times the initial investment, or save
50-90% in operating costs. Freeaire provides detailed information quantifying reduced greenhouse gas
emissions, energy savings, etc. Case studies show an average of 25-50% energy savings.
Student Engagement:
How, specifically, will this project provide opportunities for student engagement?
Engineering classes offered at the graduate and undergraduate level could partner with Green Tech
Refrigeration for the installation, evaluate the success of the upgraded system, or conduct a feasibility
study for other locations on campus (ex: labs or server rooms).
Suggested Project Champion(s):
Include the names, phone numbers, email addresses, roles, and departmental affiliations of individuals who may be
interested in developing this idea into an implemented project.
The individuals below have all expressed interest and strong support for this project and/or were
involved in the campus walk-through.
Kevin Casey, KC Mechanical, President
Phone: (802) 878-0800
Email: kevinc@kcmechanical.com
Caylin McKee, UVM Dining, Sustainability Coordinator
Phone: (802) 656-7911
Email: Caylin.McKee@uvm.edu
Michelle Smith, UVM Green Building Coordinator
Phone: (802) 656-2219
Email: michellem.smith@uvm.edu
Michael Levengood, Green Tech Refrigeration, Installer
Phone: (802) 272-5271
Email: freeaire@greentechrefrigeration.com
Michelle Keller, Burlington Electric Dept, Energy Services
Phone: (802) 865-7371
Email: MKeller@burlingtonelectric.com
Projected Budget and Budget Justification:
Outline the project budget, justifying the need for all expenditures.
2
Below is an estimated budget for the most eligible walk-in unit, in the Davis Center Marketplace. Costs
should be similar for additional units with variation in installation cost depending on building exterior
and location of cooler. Equipment costs should stay consistent.
Cost & Energy Savings Worksheet
names
addresses
contact persons
phone#
fax#
email addresses
etc.
Freeaire Refrigeration/R. H. Travers Company, 167-8 Mad River Canoe Road, Waitsfield, VT 05673 USA, Phone: 877-305-3733, web
site: www.freeaire.com,
Richard H. Travers, president, 802-496-5205, cell: 802-989-9558
email:
manufacturer richard@freeaire.com
installer Green Tech Refrigeration - Michael Levengood 16 Dimetro Road Warren, VT 05674 802-272-5271 - 802-496-4042 - freeaire@gmavt.net
customer UVM Davix Center
installation
BED- Michelle Keller - Efficiency Manbager
utilities
account#
utility rate class
average (blended) cost of electricity
Date ######
cooler?
yes
freezer? no
walk-in use food and beverages
length
Condensing unit outside? yes
meter readings? no
On outside wall? yes
concrete walls? no
width
pumpdown sytem? yes
access through ceiling and wall? yes
access through roof? no
height
compressor type reciprocating
evaporator fan diameter 12"
evaporator fan rotation cw
volume
other info No electrical permit included
hi temp.
# of
unit
power # fans # doors amps
equipment
brand
model#
s volts phase
factor
/unit
/unit
/unit
evaporators
Peerless
LSC160AMC2J
1
120
1
50%
4
4.8
condensing unit
compressor
Tecumseh
AV 144ET
1
240
1
14.2
condensing fans
240
1
85%
1
1.3
door heaters
Anthony
TJ-3
0
0
1
100%
1
0
INSTALLED COST
Qty
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Item#
Item
70100
All Climate System
70200
All Climate System w/Polar Power Pkg.
70400 All Climate w/Polar Pwr Pkg. & Hum. Cntl.
70300
Additional Polar Power Package
30100
Additional Adjustable Circ
20200
Additional Wallcap
40800
2"x16"x16" disposable Carbon Filter
30200
summer plug
30250
BreezeShooter adjustable elbow
30600
Stocking Switch
70201 All Climate Sys. w/Large Polar Power Pkg.
70450All Climate Sys.w/Large Polar Pkg. & Hum.
70350 Addl. Large (Industrial) Polar Power Pkg.
30160
Additional Large Circ Fan
40801
2"x24"x24" disposable Carbon Filter
14100
Web Interface Box
$/ea.
$2,558
$4,335
$4,735
$1,840
$355
$110
$43
$50
$75
$50
$8,300
$8,700
$5,500
$900
$95
300
subtotal
6% tax (VT shipments only)
shipping
labor
other materials & costs
total installed cost of Freeaire system
estimated utiity rebate:
NET COST (after rebate) ALL CLIMATE & POLAR PKGS:
TOTAL INSTALLED COST
TOTAL ESTIMATED UTILITY REBATE
NET COST (AFTER REBATE)
$0.13000
/kwh
16
feet
10
feet
8
feet
1,280
cubic feet
40
°F
Coefficient of
Performance
2.8
ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS
total
Item
$0
total # of evaporator fans
$4,335
watts/each fan
$0
evaporator fan runtime without Freeaire system
$0 annual evaporator fan energy use without Freeaire system
$0
expected reduction in evaporator fan runtime
$0
hours/year evaporator fan operation will be reduced
$0
total kilowatt reduction when circ fans are on
$0
annual energy saved directly by controlling evap. fans
$0
annual energy saved indirectly by condensing unit
$0
total annual energy saved by controling evap fans
$0
annual evaporator energy cost savings
$0
condensing unit kilowatts
$0
ave. annual condensing unit runtime before Freeaire
$0
annual condensing unit energy use before Freeaire
$0
condensing unit runtime in winter before Freeaire
$0
days/yr outside air takes over refrigeration
$4,335
outside air system kilowatts
$0
outside air system cold weather runtime
$0
annual condensing unit energy saved by outside air
$1,800
hours/year evap fan operation will be reduced
$100
annual evaporator fan energy saved by outside air
$6,235
total annual energy saved by All Climate & Polar Pkgs.
$1,800
annual cost savings from using All Climate & Polar Pkgs.
$4,435
ALL CLIMATE & POLAR PKGS PAYBACK PERIOD
$6,285
$1,800
$4,485
TOTAL ENERGY SAVINGS
% REDUCTION IN ENERGY USE
TOTAL ANNUAL COST SAVINGS
PAYBACK PERIOD
(IF ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY COAL) CARBON REDUCTION
value
4
72
100%
2,525
50%
4,383
0.27
1,161
415
1,576
$205
3.16
50%
13,859
30%
125
0.17
40%
2,638
990
262
4,477
$582
7.62
unit
fans
watts
4,477
27%
$582
7.7
8,954
KWH
kwh/yr
hours
KW
kwh
kwh
kwh
kw
kwh/yr
days
kw
kwh
hours
kwh
kwh
years
YEARS
LB/YR
Justification for use of student-supported, CEF Funds:
Why is this project appropriate for the Clean Energy Fund, as opposed to another funding source? What
complementary in-kind or monetary support does this project have?
UVM is responsible for the purchase, renovations and maintenance of equipment for Dining Services.
Without support from the Clean Energy Fund, this effort could be stalled in stalemate. Improving the
energy efficiency in dining helps UVM reduce its carbon footprint, lowers overall costs to UVM
operations and provides an innovative technology for students to monitor and study. Success with one
installation on campus could lead to campus-wide support of Polar Power®!
3