Residential real estate Archives | Page 2 of 8

Emergency winter weather preparedness checklist

Posted on April 10, 2024July 18, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Melt away the challenges of winter weather. Prevent costly equipment damage and disruptions to daily operations by proactively preparing for winter weather conditions.

To enhance preparedness, we encourage you to utilize our emergency winter weather preparedness checklist. Regularly reviewing and implementing this guide ensures proactive building readiness for winter conditions. It safeguards against potential freeze-ups in steam and sprinkler systems, mitigates the risk of roof collapses due to heavy snowfall, and protects against potential flooding during extremely cold temperatures. These risks present safety concerns and entail substantial financial and time investments in repairs, with the possible consequence of building shutdowns.

Print out this emergency winter weather preparedness checklist and review it every winter to prepare staff and equipment.

Vicinity has rigorous cold weather protocols to ensure safe, reliable, and consistent operation of its facilities to prevent service disruptions. Our interconnected energy facilities offer 99.99% uptime energy delivery through multiple power supplies, backup generation, and several water and fuel sources in case of interruptions to other utilities.

Vicinity’s winter weather protocol includes:

A comprehensive cold weather plan that entails pre-season preparation, pre-storm planning, weekly winter weather readiness checks, and post-season assessment.
Identification, monitoring, and prioritization of components, systems, and other areas of vulnerability at our facilities which may experience freezing problems, pose safety risks, prevent the delivery of fuel or water, or result in other cold weather operational issues.
Validation that critical equipment is operational through function testing.
Implementing ongoing walk-downs throughout the season to ensure heat tracing is functional, sufficient pipe insulation is in place, and opportunities for continuous improvement are identified.
Strict compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – Emergency Operations (EOP).
Annual training with specific checklists related to freeze protection panel alarms, troubleshooting and repair of freeze protection circuitry, identification of facility areas susceptible to winter conditions, review of special inspections or rounds implemented during severe weather, and fuel switching procedures.

Heating reimagined: industrial-scale heat pumps for building decarbonization

Posted on April 10, 2024July 18, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Revolutionizing the way we heat buildings by integrating industrial-scale heat pumps to produce carbon-free eSteam™

Industrial-scale heat pumps are revolutionizing the energy industry. With the ability to produce temperatures of up to 150C, these powerful systems have become a sustainable solution across the globe. As the demand for carbon-free heating increases, the shift away from fossil fuels is finally gaining momentum.

Vicinity is transforming district energy by installing an industrial-scale heat complex. This innovative heat pump complex will draw heat from nearby water sources to generate steam and improve the system’s efficiency. Ensuring that the river and its ecosystems remain unharmed, the river intake system lifts heat from the river and brings it into our facilities.

Key facts

Our Cambridge heat pump will have a steam export capacity of 35MW (thermal)
The heat pump will occupy a space of approximately 25,000 sq ft. +/-
The heat pump will circulate through 24.5 million to 49 million gallons of water from the Charles River daily

How heat pumps work

The heat pump compressor, powered by electricity from renewable resources compresses natural refrigerant to pressures upwards of 1,000 psig.
The heated refrigerant is conducted to a heat exchanger for low-pressure steam generation.
The low-pressure steam is transferred to a multi-stage steam compressor, which increases
steam pressure from 5 psig to 220 psig, the required pressure for distribution into the district energy system.
After generating steam, the refrigerant is routed to a feedwater pre-heating heat exchanger and is condensed.
The liquified refrigerant is then expanded through an expansion valving arrangement. The expansion reduces the refrigerant pressure, gasifies the refrigerant, and sharply reduces the refrigerant temperature to less than 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cold, gaseous refrigerant is conducted to a river water heat exchanger to collect energy from the river water. The river water heat exchanger heats the gaseous refrigerant several degrees Fahrenheit while cooling the river water several degrees Fahrenheit. The cooled, gaseous refrigerant is conducted back to the heat pump compressor for reuse in the heat pump cycle.

How Vicinity is using heat pumps

Industrial-scale heat pumps will be installed in cities around the country where Vicinity’s facilities are located near water sources and already employ water intake systems. These heat pumps will extract heat from adjacent water sources, like the Charles and Schuylkill Rivers, to generate steam and improve the system’s overall efficiency.

Across all of our operations, heat pumps will be used with electric boilers and thermal storage technologies to fully decarbonize our operations.

This first heat pump complex in Cambridge will be powered by renewable electricity to efficiently harvest energy from the Charles River and return the water to a lower temperature.

Early design of the industrial-scale heat pump Vicinity Energy is developing in partnership with MAN Energy Solutions.

Why industrial heat pumps are important for Vicinity, our customers, and the environment

The global energy transition can only succeed with decarbonizing heat. Why? Heating in buildings is responsible for four gigatons (Gt) of CO2 emissions annually—10% of global emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The heating sector accounts for 30-40% of CO2 emissions globally.

Water-source heat pumps are a proven solution to fossil- fuel-driven heating because they can efficiently harness the renewable power of water sources.

In 2021, approximately 10% percent of the global demand for space heating was satisfied by heat pumps. In some countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland, heat pumps are the most widely used heating source and have already begun integrating with district energy systems. The district system in Glasgow will leverage heat pumps to extract cold water from the adjacent River Clyde. This will cover over 80% of building heat demand and will deliver immediate carbon reductions of 50%.

By installing industrial-scale heat pumps at our central facilities, Vicinity is one step closer to instantly decarbonizing millions of square feet of building space for the good of our customers, communities, and the cities we operate. The impact of this plan is substantial: by 2035, Vicinity’s investments at our Kendall, MA facility will reduce the carbon intensity of our steam by 50%, the equivalent of 400,000 tons.

Steam trap inspections

Posted on April 10, 2024July 18, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Maximize steam efficiency, safety, and cost savings with preventative maintenance

Improve the efficiency and safety of steam systems with steam trap inspections by Vicinity’s qualified technicians. Our team will diagnose and identify issues to keep steam systems operating safely and efficiently 24/7.

Steam traps are critical components of steam systems and play a vital role in maintaining their efficiency and safety. Steam traps collect condensate to prevent corrosion caused by built-up moisture and ensure high-quality, dry steam flows through the steam system. Steam traps also block the escape of live steam, minimizing energy waste. Regular maintenance and monitoring are essential to ensure they function correctly and prevent issues that can lead to energy waste, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Vicinity’s steam trap inspections offer the following benefits:

Reduced energy costs: Steam traps in good condition help conserve steam, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Improved equipment reliability: Properly maintained traps extend the lifespan of steam-related equipment.
Enhanced safety: Reducing energy waste and water hammer incidents improves workplace safety.
Environmental benefits: Energy conservation through steam trap maintenance can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

How it works

Partnering with our customers, Vicinity tailors each approach specifically to the unique needs of the building. The process of performing steam trap inspections typically includes the following steps:

Vicinity coordinates an initial walkthrough of the building and provides a quote showing the cost and scope of work.
Once the customer returns a signed quote, Vicinity’s account manager schedules the work.
A Vicinity technician conducts the steam trap inspection using an ultrasonic digital detector. If this is the first survey, the technician tags and catalogs each trap for future surveys.
After the inspection, the customer receives a report detailing:
- The status of each trap.
- Recommended action items and the potential savings associated with recommended action items.

Efficiency and system performance

When steam traps fail and steam escapes, systems demand more steam to operate. Steam trap inspections improve the overall operating performance of steam systems, minimizing the amount of energy waste and the associated carbon emissions.

Cost savings

Leaking steam traps result in significant lost capital over the life of the equipment. Analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Boiler Efficiency Institute shows that repairing a faulty steam trap could save thousands of dollars annually. Steam trap inspections represent an opportunity for customers to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

Safety considerations

Safety is our primary focus. With Vicinity’s trained technicians conducting the inspections, customers can rest assured that the proper measures are in place to safely conduct and identify any steam trap hazards that can lead to a water hammer event. A water hammer event occurs when a failed steam trap allows condensate to build in the steam main. As steam passes over and combines with the excess condensate, it creates a pressure event that can lead to undesirable noise, damaged equipment, and—in worst cases—injury.

Two Liberty Place mitigated capital costs with district steam

Posted on April 3, 2024July 23, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Industry

Residential real estate

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Square footage

1.2 million

The customer

With its memorable tiered glass roof, Two Liberty Place is an iconic part of Philadelphia’s Center City. At 57 stories tall and 1.2 million square feet, Two Liberty Place is the city’s fourth tallest building and one of the two towers of the Liberty Place complex. Designed by the legendary architect Helmut Jahn, Two Liberty Place has been an iconic mainstay of Philadelphia’s skyline for more than three decades. The high-rise building originally housed corporate offices, but was later converted to a mixed-use property with luxury residential condominiums.

Coretrust Capital Partners (Coretrust), a private real estate investment management company, acquired this architectural gem in October 2016.

The challenge

When Coretrust acquired the building, they faced an aging energy infrastructure. The skyscraper’s onsite electric hot water boilers were 30 years old and exhibited declining reliability issues, presenting an expensive upfront capital investment if Coretrust replaced the equipment. Given the building’s heating demand and limited capital funds, searching for an affordable and reliable energy solution was critical.

The solution

With six outdated and inefficient electric boilers, Coretrust and the property management partner, CBRE, opted for Vicinity’s green steam to heat the building over local natural gas and electricity providers. The result was a cost-effective, energy-efficient solution.

Avoiding upfront capital expenditure

By choosing district steam, Coretrust avoided replacing its onsite electric boilers with new, expensive infrastructure, which resulted in avoiding high upfront costs for both Coretrust and the building condo owners. Vicinity’s deep financial resources helped Coretrust connect to the district energy network at a minimal cost, enabling them to provide an affordable and reliable energy solution for tenants. The Coretrust team then redirected this capital for other initiatives and improvements to the building to add value for tenants.

Preserving a finite resource

At Vicinity’s suggestion, Two Liberty incorporated a vertical flooding MCU model heat exchanger. This approach keeps exhaust at low enough temperatures that additional city water isn’t required for cooling, saving additional costs and Philadelphia’s precious freshwater resources.

Driving tenant retention with sustainability

Powered by a highly efficient energy process called combined heat and power (CHP), district steam helps Two Liberty achieve its sustainability goals. Because CHP systems require less fuel to produce the same energy output as single heat and power systems, they reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants.

District energy helps Two Liberty avoid approximately 1,186 tons of annual carbon emissions, equivalent to removing about 237 vehicles from the roads yearly.

Benefits

Upfront capital savings

Meeting stringent
energy needs

1,186 tons of annual
carbon emission savings

Metropolitan Partnership frees up valuable amenity space for residents

Posted on April 3, 2024July 18, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Industry

Residential real estate

Location

Baltimore, MD

Square footage

482,000

The customer

Located in the heart of Baltimore with extensive views of the harbor, 10 Light Street is one of the most architecturally significant buildings dominating the city’s skyline. Built in 1929, the 34-story, 482,000-square-foot Art Deco building has a long history of leveraging district energy for reliable heating and domestic hot water.

The challenge

Originally used for banking and commercial offices, 10 Light Street was renovated into 400 luxury apartment units by the building owners, Metropolitan Partnership, in 2014. As part of the renovation project and effort to accommodate the growing housing market, Metropolitan Partnership sought a creative cooling solution to address its antiquated chilling and cooling towers—all while reducing capital costs and carbon footprint.

The solution

Because of its longstanding partnership with Vicinity, Metropolitan Partnership removed the building’s failing chilling and cooling towers and seamlessly tapped into Vicinity’s district chilled water network. This network incorporates thermal storage systems that produce chilled water from ice made using off-peak electricity—taking pressure off electrical grids during summer peak capacity periods and helping reduce electric capacity charges.

Removing bulk and adding cutting-edge amenities

By converting to Vicinity’s chilled water system in 2014, the building removed onsite chillers and cooling towers and freed up valuable space no longer needed for large onsite mechanical equipment. As a result, residents could enjoy new amenities, including a roof-top pool, skyline lounge, a 42,000-square-foot Under Armour Performance Center, and indoor and outdoor dog parks. These amenities are essential in attracting and retaining residents by making the building a desired, premium-level living experience.

Achieving a greener future

Because Vicinity leverages renewables to generate approximately 50% of the steam delivered to Baltimore customers and 100% carbon-free electricity via emission-free energy certificates (EFECs), 10 Light Street benefits from 99.99% reliable thermal energy that provides uninterrupted service to tenants while also contributing to a greener future. District energy not only helped reduce the building’s carbon footprint, but also its impact on the surrounding Baltimore community and planet.

Benefits

Reduced carbon footprint

99.99% reliability 

Maximized building space

Vicinity Energy Recognized by Cambridge Chamber of Commerce for eSteam™

Posted on April 3, 2024July 18, 2024 by Vicinity Energy

Cambridge, December 12, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, has been recognized by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce for its commitment to innovation in the launch of eSteam™, the first renewable, carbon-free thermal energy product in the United States.

Each year, the Visionary Awards recognize innovators from the business, institutional, and non-profit communities who are creating change in Cambridge and beyond. This year’s fellow award recipients include Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Astellas Pharma, the Broad Institute, The Loop Lab, Philips, and Sarepta Therapeutics.

With a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Vicinity is electrifying its district energy systems, starting in Boston and Cambridge, with other locations to follow. The company’s multi-pronged decarbonization and electrification plan includes installing innovative technologies such as electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage. Vicinity announced the launch of eSteam™, the first-ever carbon-free thermal energy product powered by renewable energy, as a key part of this strategy.

“Vicinity’s work to decarbonize its customers, operations, and communities by electrifying steam generation truly embodies the Visionary spirit,” stated David Maher, president and CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to present the Visionary Award to Vicinity for the development of eSteam™, a renewable carbon-free product that will be critical to helping businesses decarbonize their operations in Boston and Cambridge.”

“At IQHQ, we are developing transformative science districts across Boston that will leverage e-steam from Vicinity Energy to meet the needs of our life science tenants and our organization’s sustainability goals,” said Will Ashton, senior director of development for IQHQ. “We are excited to have partnered with Vicinity to decarbonize the steam serving our projects with renewable energy options that comply with the City’s BERDO 2.0 regulations.

“This is an exceptional recognition of eSteam™, our renewable carbon-free product,” said Kevin Hagerty, president and deputy chief executive officer of Vicinity Energy. “The Chamber’s Visionary award solidifies our commitment to a clean energy future and demonstrates our team’s commitment to helping our innovative customers like IQHQ lower carbon emissions and combat climate change.”

The race to net zero

In November of 2022, the company kicked off its electrification strategy by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its place, Vicinity is installing an electric boiler that will begin supplying eSteam™ to customers in 2024.

In April 2023, Vicinity took another crucial step forward, announcing its partnership with Augsburg, Germany-based MAN Energy Solutions to collaborate in engineering low-temperature source heat pump systems for steam generation. Vicinity plans to install an industrial-scale heat pump complex at its Kendall Station facility by 2027.

The company’s other 10 locations will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years to achieve its operations goal of net zero by 2050.

About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Media Contact

Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us

Melt away the challenges of winter weather. Prevent costly equipment damage and disruptions to daily operations by proactively preparing for winter weather conditions.

Revolutionizing the way we heat buildings by integrating industrial-scale heat pumps to produce carbon-free eSteam™

Key facts

How heat pumps work

How Vicinity is using heat pumps

Why industrial heat pumps are important for Vicinity, our customers, and the environment

Maximize steam efficiency, safety, and cost savings with preventative maintenance

Improve the efficiency and safety of steam systems with steam trap inspections by Vicinity’s qualified technicians. Our team will diagnose and identify issues to keep steam systems operating safely and efficiently 24/7.

How it works

Efficiency and system performance

Cost savings

Safety considerations

Industry

Location

Square footage

The customer

The challenge

The solution

Avoiding upfront capital expenditure

Preserving a finite resource

Driving tenant retention with sustainability

Benefits

Upfront capital savings

Meeting stringent energy needs

1,186 tons of annual carbon emission savings

Industry

Location

Square footage

The customer

The challenge

The solution

Removing bulk and adding cutting-edge amenities

Achieving a greener future

Benefits

Reduced carbon footprint

99.99% reliability

Maximized building space

The race to net zero

Stay informed

Technologies

Products

Services

Meeting stringent
energy needs

1,186 tons of annual
carbon emission savings

99.99% reliability 