The city of Atlanta embarked on transforming the abandoned Imperial Hotel, now called “The Commons at Imperial Hotel,” which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, into subsidized residential housing, designed specifically for residents with special needs and supportive service requirements. After a thorough review process, Conditioned Air Systems (CAS) was awarded the contract to help deliver energy savings and efficient heating and cooling options throughout this multi-pronged project.
A main goal in renovating the building was to choose a heating and cooling system that resulted in energy savings. The building required a system that offered innovative technology and the ability to provide occupants individual control while still achieving superior energy savings. With individual zoning, occupants have the flexibility to choose whether they want to heat or cool their room and set their own temperature, providing excellent personal comfort.
With the LG Multi V III Heat Recovery system with Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology in place, the building now utilizes the advantage of heat recovery by capturing heat energy normally discharged to the atmosphere by zones in cooling mode and moving the heat energy to zones that need it. The LG VRF system also provides exceptional dehumidification and temperature control by rapidly adapting to changing loads. The system is also designed to recover heat, making the system remarkably energy efficient. Given the higher energy efficiency and longer piping capabilities of the Multi V III, it was a sensible choice. The installation of VRF resulted in lower operational costs, minimal ductwork, easy installation and increased occupant comfort, which helped the contractors complete the project on time and on budget. VRF eliminated the need for an installed cooling tower or water maintenance, lowering installation costs.
The LG Multi V III Heat Recovery played a major role in the building achieving the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certifi cation. This certification recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices for constructing new and retrofitting existing buildings and adhering to ASHRAE requirements. The goal of the project was achieved by supporting the specific comfort needs of each resident with the integration of LG’s Multi V III VRF technology, which also offered the flexibility of installing new air conditioning units without compromising the building’s appearance. Though there were numerous conventional air conditioning systems available to implement in the building restoration, none provided the ultimate benefit of energy efficiency and installation flexibility that the LG VRF systems did. As a LEED Gold certified building, the Imperial Hotel saves money and resources while promoting energy savings and comfort among its occupants.
Publication date: 12/4/2017
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