CLARIDGE HOUSE II

 

LOCATIONS: VERONA, NJ

CLIENT: CLARIDGE HOUSE II CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION

MARKET SECTOR: REAL ESTATE

SIZE: 336 UNITS

THE OPPORTUNITY

Claridge House II (CHII) is a high-rise luxury condominium with 336 units in Verona, New Jersey.  The facility management was interested in evaluating options for providing stand-alone power generation fired by natural gas, including the opportunity for a cogeneration system to provide standalone power generation and also increase the site’s energy efficiency.  CHII engaged PS&S to consider options.


THE CHALLENGE

The building dates to 1975, but it has been well-maintained. Significant upgrades to the utility systems in the building within the past 10 years as well as constraints of the building site, make it difficult to justify a cogeneration system.  Newer utility systems include condensing hot water boilers, a chiller with variable frequency drive (VFD) and VFD controls on the main chilled water distribution pump.  The domestic hot water system has instantaneous heat exchangers and no storage.  The management wants to locate any new equipment in the underground parking area adjacent to the existing boiler room.  Venting of new cogeneration equipment would need to be routed up the side of the 12-story building.

 

THE PS&S SOLUTION

PS&S analyzed options for backup power for the facility.  Cogeneration systems sized to meet the full facility load would have a long payback even considering state incentive payments and would require installation of absorption chillers to provide a summer thermal load.  The site has chosen to consider installing standby gas-fired generators to augment an existing diesel generator if the site loses power.