UBC Okanagan Science Building 3rd Floor & Heat Pump Interconnect

An existing 280ton district energy groundwater to water heat pump that served the lower two floors of this three-storey 100,000 ft2 building was underutilized and had spare capacity to serve the top storey (3rd floor) of the facility of approximately 30,000ft2.  Existing automation data was reviewed to determine proof of concept and modeling was completed that indicated potential gas energy, energy cost and carbon emissions savings.  The existing 3rd Floor hydronic heating coils were analyzed to determine their suitability for continued use with lower-temperature heating water that is produced by heat pumps.

An interface system was designed between the heat pump system and various building hydronic heating systems that enabled an automatic load shift to the area of greatest heating demand.

The heating system for the 3rd floor of the facility now operates from the heat pump system without using supplemental gas energy for the majority of the heating system, and the system acts as part of the campus’ multi-pronged approach toward decarbonization and net-zero energy.

Please contact us if you require assistance with your HVAC, decarbonization and energy upgrade projects.