Mexico. This is Arboleda, a multipurpose development located in San Pedro Garza García, which has adopted a new approach to sustainable and efficient building management.
Developed by CREO, this property includes retail stores, an exclusive hotel, restaurants, apartments, and office buildings. In the centre of Arboleda is the district cooling system, which provides cold water to the tenants of the entire property. This system, with a substantial capacity of 6,500 tonnes, plays a key role in maintaining comfort in all buildings. It uses 1,500 Belimo Energy Valves to manage cold water and another 500 for heating the apartments.
The energy-efficient management of these systems is a priority for Arboleda and, according to those responsible for the project, the integration of the Belimo energy valve has been instrumental in helping the complex achieve energy efficiency and accurate billing to tenants, two fundamental objectives for the long-term management of the property.
Alan Quiroga Gamboa, PhD, of controls contractor DOT DCD, discussed the integration of Belimo's Energy Valve into their energy efficiency strategy. "Our sequences with the Energy Valve are configured by GPM, not flow pressure, and this automation process saves 40 to 65% of pumping energy per building," he explained.
Traditionally, buildings require multiple pumps to maintain adequate water pressure for cooling. In this regard, Alan added that "now, with this sequence, we begin to use only one pump and achieve the same comfort for the entire building." Each pump is typically a high-consumption unit of around 60 horsepower, making this reduction in pump usage a key factor for energy savings. But the operational savings extend beyond the reduction of pump energy.
One of the key features of Belimo's Energy Valve is its ability to dynamically maintain and manage Delta T (the difference between supply and return water temperatures), which is key to optimizing cooling system efficiency. In Arboleda, the Delta T values achieved by the Energy Valve range from 10°F to 16°F, ensuring that the system operates at peak efficiency. By optimizing the Delta T, the valves reduce energy waste and ensure that the chilled water system operates as designed, minimizing unnecessary strain on the system and reducing energy costs.
"We now have 60% more occupants than when we started, but now we pay less for energy," Alan said, emphasizing the impact of Energy Valve's integration. By maintaining optimal Delta T values and improving overall system performance, Energy Valve has also contributed to Arboleda's sustainability initiatives. Most of the buildings in the complex have obtained LEED Gold certification, a testament to the high efficiency of the systems implemented.
While most of the buildings in Arboleda were equipped with Belimo Energy valves from the beginning, competing valves that were used in some areas were later replaced because they did not provide the correct reporting data needed for proper tenant billing. Instead, the Energy valve provided accurate and comprehensive reporting along with better control over ice water flow and energy consumption. This transition has greatly improved both system performance and tenant satisfaction.
"The consumption readings were not accurate, which led to widespread complaints from tenants," Alan said. "We decided to remove all the old valves and replace them with Energy valves. Now it's clear that everyone pays for what they actually consume."
DOT's proprietary DCD app has been instrumental in delivering the real-time information provided by Energy Valve through an intuitive dashboard where building owners and tenants can easily access analytics and check their billing.
Piotr Grodzicki, property manager for CREO's Residential and Commercial Arboleda divisions, stressed the
importance of having clear reporting. "Our customers and tenants really value Energy Valve's reporting capabilities and the visibility it provides. End users have access to all the analyses they need to review their chilled water consumption and ensure they are billed correctly," he said.
The complex is currently operating seven of the twelve buildings outlined in its master plan, and an additional 500 power valves will be installed as the remaining buildings become operational.
"This ensures that as Arboleda grows, the power valve will continue to provide the transparency and efficiency needed to manage the cooling system effectively, accurately bill tenants, and keep the system running at peak performance," noted manufacturer Belimo.
