Value Delivered
EMCOR Construction Services Midwest engineered and designed an environmental control system to help keep a middle school’s natatorium temperature and humidity levels compliant with both American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and swim competition standards. We also self-performed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work to complete the project.
Our solutions helped the client save $321,885 over 10 years in annual operational, maintenance, and energy costs. This allowed for complete recovery of the school’s natatorium HVAC upgrade costs.
Furthermore, our work helped improve the comfort and safety of students, faculty, athletes, coaches, and spectators—while delivering ongoing economies, efficiencies, and investment returns.
Client Objectives
The client wanted to stabilize the natatorium’s temperature and humidity levels for optimum occupant comfort and safety, while reducing energy consumption and costs.
Solutions
The client’s original mechanical system dated back to the 1970s and used 100 percent outside air for space conditioning. This inefficient system had become increasingly expensive to operate and maintain, and was causing temperature inconsistency that was adversely affecting the indoor environment. High humidity levels threatened the integrity of the structure and its finishes.
To help solve these issues, we installed a control system as well as a secondary heat exchanger. The exchanger uses rejected heat from the control system to warm the pool at virtually no cost.
Additionally, we replaced a galvanized duct system with a fabric duct that "washes" the exterior walls to provide more uniform air distribution throughout the building envelope, pool deck, and water surface area.
Client Background
The Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School district serves approximately 1,500 students in three schools.