Chiller plant retrofit project driven by efficiency and sustainability concerns
Johnson Controls, a global leader in building technologies and solutions, has enabled Sunway Pyramid mall, one of the largest shopping malls in Malaysia, to save more than RM3 million in annual energy cost consistently since the retrofit in 2012. The result of a comprehensive chiller plant retrofit, the achievement exceeded the targets set by the Sunway management in its quest for improving energy efficiency and sustainability of the mega mall that opened in 1997.
Johnson Controls was awarded the retrofit contract in a six-way tender exercise. The project scope was to replace the aging original installation to eliminate the use of HCFC[1] refrigerant gas, and to improve the overall chiller plant room efficiency. In addition, the project was to be carried out without downtime to the retailers and shoppers at the mall.
With a total retail floor area of nearly 4 million square feet, the retrofit project is one of the largest for shopping malls and a pioneer for green buildings in this category in Malaysia. It is estimated that green building practices can reduce a building’s operating costs by as much as nine per cent, while increasing the building value by 7.5 per cent and providing a 6.6 per cent increase in return on investment.[2]
“Sunway Pyramid mall is one of the largest shopping centers in Malaysia. Given the size of the retrofit project, it’s imperative that we select a partner with a proven technology, solid track record and good after sales service to support us. Johnson Controls, as one of the top providers of energy efficient chillers in the market, fits the bill. The YORK® chillers have exceeded our expectations in terms of performance and energy savings,” said Mr. Jason Chin, general manager of operations, Sunway Malls.
Johnson Controls designed and installed an integrated software to optimize the performance of a series of centrifugal water chillers (comprising seven units of 1,200 TR[3] capacity and one unit of 550 TR capacity).
The solution exceeded the mall’s energy efficiency targets within a year of project completion. It delivered a plant room efficiency of 0.75 kW/TR or less, and exceeded the target of 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption. The carbon dioxide reduction is estimated to reach 6,400 metric tonnes per year.
The new solution also offers flexibility and improves productivity. It has sufficient redundancy to ensure undisrupted cooling and is able to provide extra cooling capacity during peak periods when there is higher footfall at the mall.
The maintenance personnel can better manage and monitor the plant room performance through the system’s automation features and analytics, thereby improving overall efficiency such as faster response time to address any disruptions.
“It’s our mission at Johnson Controls to help facilities owners optimise their buildings for better comfort, cost savings and sustainability. We are honored to play a pivotal role in the transformative journey of Sunway Pyramid, one of Selangor’s most well-known landmarks,” said Fam Wee Chean, country general manager, Malaysia.
Johnson Controls has been selected to work on other properties under the Sunway Group. New projects will include providing energy efficient cooling solutions to properties such as Sunway University, Sunway Velocity Hotel and Sunway Medical Center.
About Johnson Controls:
At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. From optimising building performance to improving safety and enhancing comfort, we drive the outcomes that matter most. We deliver our promise in industries such as healthcare, education, data centers, and manufacturing. With a global team of 105,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 130 years of innovation, we are the power behind our customers’ mission. Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes some of the most trusted names in the industry, such as Tyco®, YORK®, Metasys®, Ruskin®, Titus®, Frick®, PENN®, Sabroe®, Simplex®, Ansul® and Grinnell®. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us on Johnson Controls Asia Pacific LinkedIn page.
[1] Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are chemicals mainly used as refrigerants and when released into the atmosphere, deplete the Earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to climate change.
[2] Clean Malaysia https://cleanmalaysia.com/2015/08/28/the-rise-of-green-building-in-malaysia/
[3] Ton of Refrigeration is a unit of power to describe the heat-extraction capacity of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
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