Sharon Hanks
A new custom-built condensing heat exchanger for the special steam
system serving the central business district of downtown Grand Rapids
has reduced the facility's carbon-dioxide emissions by 5 percent
annually.
Veolia Energy Grand Rapids LLC installed the heat
recovery system, called the Economizer, at the energy facility it
purchased from Kent County in December 2008. Located at W. Fulton Street
and Monroe Avenue, the facility provides steam to about 125 downtown
commercial, government, institutional and healthcare customers to heat
their buildings and their water.
The reduction of the facility's overall carbon footprint is the
amount roughly equivalent to the annual carbon-dioxide emissions of
1,000 vehicles, says Veolia Energy Grand Rapids General Manager Keith
Oldewurtel.
"It was something we planned on doing during the acquisition process
to keep the facility competitive and to improve its sustainability,"
says Oldewurtel. The Economizer became operational last November at
which time officials began completing the installation's punch list and
pursuing necessary certifications to validate it was performing as
expected, he says.
Veolia Energy contracted with Progressive AE of Grand Rapids last year to custom
design and build the cutting-edge Economizer. In addition to reducing
carbon dioxide emissions, the unit also has reduced the operation's
consumption of fuel by at least 5 percent, ensuring competitive steam
rates for customers.
DTE Energy was so impressed with the Economizer's efficiency, it
nominated Veolia Energy for an award from the Energy
Solutions Center, a North American trade association for utilities
and equipment providers. Two weeks ago, Veolia Energy officials say they
accepted the award in Detroit.
The Economizer is the latest efficiency upgrade Veolia Energy has
made to the system that distributes steam to the central business
district along four miles of high pressure and 1.5 miles of low pressure
steam pipes. "It eliminates the need (for customers) to have their own
boiler to produce their own energy," says Oldewurtel.
Boston-based Veolia Energy is a subsidiary of Veolia Environment, the
world's leading environmental services company. It owns and operates
the largest portfolio of district energy networks in the United States.
Source: Keith Oldewurtel, general manager for Veolia Energy Grand
Rapids LLC
Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth
Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.