Project Summary: Golub Realty Services, LLC engaged Cyclone Energy Group in 2012 to consult on energy management through Cyclone’s energyPLAN service at 625 N. Michigan Avenue. Through energyPLAN, Cyclone and the building team: plan and executive capital and operational projects; manage demand-side energy consumption; benchmark energy consumption and adhere to local energy ordinances; and report on realized cost savings, trends, opportunities, and achievements. In total, the property has secured nearly $100,000 in utility incentives to reduce project paybacks.

Since working with Cyclone, the building has completed a variety of projects that include installing fan coil time clocks, demand control ventilation, and variable fan drives; downsizing motors; and upgrading lighting. Through these projects, the building was able to shed an estimated 1 million kWh annually, which translates into 18% whole building energy savings.

In March 2012, the building began the Retro-Commissioning (RCx) process through ComEd’s program. For this effort, Cyclone analyzed the operation of the building and worked with the building team to determine opportunities for energy reduction without impacts to the occupants, leading to a 5% energy use reduction with a 0.52 year payback. An estimated 330,500 kWh, 595 kW, and 10,500 therms – equaling an annual savings of $27,800 – were saved through identified opportunities. Projects completed as a result of the study include installing V-bank filters and enthalpy economizers to all air handling units; developing a variable frequency drive speed reset strategy based on outdoor air temperature; scheduling the lobby unit’s runtime and implementing a setback strategy for unoccupied hours; repairing leaking outdoor air dampers; and installing a time clock to shut off perimeter fan coils when the building is unoccupied.

Ongoing building initiatives include: participating in Retrofit Chicago – the Mayor’s challenge to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2015; maintaining their strong ENERGY STAR score, which indicates that they are outperforming 90% of peer buildings; maintaining utility costs that are below the Chicago high-rise average of $2/rsf; engaging tenants through ComEd’s Commercial Real Estate Program, through which the building earned a $20,000 bonus check for their proven efforts; and piloting a state-of-the-art window retrofit solution study.