Steam Plant fully operational |
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UAB District Steam System was officially commissioned on, March 14th, 2013, when Alabama Power Company closed its valves on a steam system that had provided service to the downtown Birmingham area since the early 1900's. Facilities in the district have historically counted on steam production for various building usage such as, heating, humidification, and sterilization. The design and construction of this $72 million project was implemented within five years of conception. Steam from this new plant is being transported through 20,000 linear feet of piping to reach over 6 million square feet in the various 30 facilities around campus. Although UAB will use about 65% of the steam production, it will also be serving the VA Hospital and the Southern Research Institute. UAB estimates the energy efficiency and the environmental benefits to these buildings will be substantial. Energy efficiency gains are estimated to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 30% and the emissions reduction benefit should result in a 56% decrease of carbon dioxide. Customers should she a 20 percent savings in energy costs because of the condensation that will be collected and piped back to the plant for reuse. This equates to saving about 50 million gallons of water per year which would have cost about $2 million per year plus sewer disposal cost.
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Facilities Capturing and Reusing Air Handler Condensate Featured in Two Magazines |
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The First fin water recovery system was installed in May of 2011. Designed by Olen Pruitt, Assistant Vice President, Facilities Management, the fin water recovery system was designed as a way to reuse water that was currently being thrown away down storm drains. The first article was published in APPA's International District Energy Association magazine. You can read the article by clicking on this link. Or read the entire magazine by clicking on the photo above. The second article appeared in Facilities Manager magazine. To read the article, please click on this link or the photo below. 
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