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Environmentally
Sustainable Skating Rinks
· All-Around
Superior Performance ·
The International Skating Center in Simsbury,
Connecticut, the Amelia Park Ice Arena and Gardens in Westfield, Massachusetts,
and the David S. Ingalls Rink at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut,
have incorporated pollution-prevention technologies and practices at their
facilities. In all three cases,
fostering an environmentally sustainable profile is earning rewards in a number
of ways, ranging from appreciative skaters to energy and water savings.
The International Skating Center
· The
International Skating Center. The
Center is a world-class, twin-rink skating facility designed to meet the needs
of first-time competitors and Olympic Champions alike. Known as having been the practice rink for
such skating stars as Oksana Baiul over the years, Olympic Gold Medalists
Ekaterina (Katia) Gordeeva and Viktor
Petrenko now headline a growing list of international skating champions who
train there.
Katia Gordeeva Viktor
Petrenko
© 2001 Tracy Marks, webwinds.com © 2001Tracy
Marks, webwinds.com
As part of an environmental awareness objective and desire
to support chemical-free operations, the International Skating Center installed
a 6-inch Dolphin pulsed-power system (PPS) with a 3/4-inch make-up unit into
its compressor system late last fall.
The following figure shows a pattern of change in microbial counts
(CFU/ml) after PPS installation. The
plot presents Heterotrophic Plate Counts (HPC) using Standard Method of
Analysis (SMA) data from the end of the period of chemical treatment through
the transition to PPS treatment that occurred on November 25, 2000. Approximately one month after installation
the biological counts dropped significantly.
Amelia Park Ice Arena and Gardens Amelia
Park Ice Arena: Garden View
· Amelia
Park Ice Arena and Gardens. Until a few
years ago, rinks relied on chemicals.
“It was a marginal fix that didn’t work—the compressors were full of
calcite while being treated chemically,” according to Skip Anderson, Executive
Director of the Amelia Park Ice Arena and Gardens. Opened in July of 2000, the facility is projected to bring in
from 60 to 75 thousand people a year.
Built by local philanthropist Albert Ferst in memory of his wife,
Amelia, who was an avid skater, horticulturalist, and advocate of
environmentally sustainable development, the non-profit Amelia Park is adorned
with gardens, high-end landscaping, an elegant lobby with a natural gas
fireplace, and an outdoor rink for rollerblading activities.
The major influence
behind installing the 3-inch Dolphin pulse-powered unit in their compressor
system, along with a ¾-inch make-up unit, was the desire for a clean facility,
along with the fact that the pulse-power technology would help prolong the
operational life of the compressor system.
(No set-aside funds were established for equipment maintenance, so the
“longevity attribute” of building components is integral to strategic facility
management plans.) Anderson, a former
public television producer, has been managing skating rink facilities for the
past 8 years. (In fact, he was the
facilities manager for the International Skating Center prior to his current
position with Amelia Park.) Managing
limited funds is always a critical aspect of skating rinks in general, so the
Dolphin’s superior performance and environmentally compatible assets also had
to be answerable to cost-justification criteria. With the facility’s electric bill running in the five-figure
range every month, the energy efficiency of the Dolphin was another critical
aspect in its selection. Of course, the
Dolphin System is not the only superior performing, environmentally respected,
and cost-justified component to the facility.
Amelia Park also acquired an all-electric (battery-powered) Olympia ice
resurfacer to abide by very strict indoor-air quality standards and ensure a
clean and healthy environment for all who use and enjoy the facility.
David S. Ingalls Rink at Yale University
· David
S. Ingalls Rink. The Dolphin’s
pulsed-power technology continues to attract skating rinks to improve the
operational performance of their compression systems. This latest example at Yale University coincides with continual
improvements at one of the most distinguished collegiate hockey facilities in
the country. The home of Bulldog men’s
hockey since 1958, the rink has been dubbed the “Yale Whale” because of its
hump-backed roof and arching, 300-foot backbone designed by renowned architect
Eero Saarinen. It is also thought that
the design depicts the grace involved in skating. With all things smart at Yale, installing the Dolphin at the rink
was not only the right thing to do but contributes to an environmentally
sustainable future for a historically significant structure.
Cooling
Towers in the Heat of Environmental Issues
Cooling towers are
commonly regarded as harmless devices that generate comfort cooling in
buildings. However, the practice of
using chemicals to treat the recirculating water in cooling towers is becoming
increasingly subject to federal, state, and local environmental
regulations. While these chemicals are
intended primarily to prevent mineral scale formation, control biological
activity, and inhibit corrosion for cooling towers, they also present possible
threats to human health and the environment.
The chemicals used to control corrosion and biological activity are
considered the most potentially hazardous.
·
Controlling Corrosion. Since chromates were banned as an inhibitor in cooling towers, corrosion
control is usually accomplished by additives of zinc chemicals, phosphates, or
molybdenates. Zinc is a persistent, bio-accumulative
toxin (PBT). Its use in cooling towers has been banned by approximately half of
the states in the nation. Phosphate
release is a continuing problem for ecosystems because it encourages algae
growth and the resulting deoxidation in receiving waters. Molybdenum reports to the sludge in waste
treatment plants. The use of
molybdenum-containing sludge as a fertilizer raises numerous issues about its
effects on the food chain.
· Controlling
Biological Activity. Chlorine is the most common biocide,
although bromine use is increasing.
Both of these compounds will produce known carcinogens from contact with
organics. All biocides released to
publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) interfere with natural biological
activities to treat waste. Using some Department of Energy (DOE) estimates on
the quantity of centrifugal chillers used for comfort cooling, chemical
releases extrapolate out to: (a) 438,000 pounds per year of chlorine released
to water as chlorinated hydrocarbons, and (b) 24,528,000 pounds per year of
chlorine released to atmosphere as chlorine gas. The estimated unreported and unregulated quantity of chlorine gas
released from comfort-cooling towers alone is 40% of all of the regulated and
reported quantity released in the country.
In 1994, when the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to study the viability of a
national strategy to “prohibit, substitute, or reduce” the use of chlorine in
just four major-use sectors (PVC, solvents, pulp bleaching, and water treatment),
the proposal was attacked through an aggressive counter-campaign. The opposition’s basic argument was that not
only were chlorine and chlorinated compounds essential to modern society, there
were no alternatives. However, it is
reasonable to submit that if viable alternatives exist in some cases, a total
dependence on chlorine is not inescapable.
Certainly with cooling tower water treatment, pulsed-power technology is
a viable alternative that works better, makes economic sense, and is
environmentally sustainable.
“It’s not
easy being green.”
The
Importance of Being Green
Some years ago
environmental concerns seemed to be the province of naïve but well meaning people
who did not appreciate the need to expand business and job opportunities.
Environmentalists and leaders of business and industry were always at odds, as
though they had mutually exclusive goals.
However, today there is a growing recognition that environmentally sound
practices are smart, cost-effective, and good for business.
Probably the keenest insight of the recent past on this
subject is, “We all have to live in this environment and if it becomes
unhealthy, we will all suffer.” Many
business managers want to operate with “green practices” for their families,
their employees, their customers and clients, their shareholders, and their
reputations in the eyes of the public—but at what cost? Recently, a high-rise office property
manager assured me that he was committed to green practices but also cautioned
that he was limited his high-end marketplace in New York City to a rental fee
of $60 per square foot, and he could not possibly afford additional expenses.
At Clearwater we are in the fortunate circumstance of being
green and also being cost- competitive with chemical treatment alternatives
regarding our mainstay business: water treatment for cooling towers and
industrial steam boilers. We offer the
opportunity to save money and contribute to human health and environmental
benefits at the same time.
Green building tax credits and other incentives in some states are making the decision to be “green” even easier. In an era where popular cinema is portraying the horrendous environmental and economic costs associated with chemically treated cooling towers (e.g., Erin Brockovich), being environmentally responsible is in everyone’s best interest. With apologies to Jim Henson’s Kermit the Frog and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, it’s getting easier to be green, and the importance of doing so is genuine.
Pulsed
Power Kicks the “Swamp” Out of “Swamp Coolers”
Direct evaporative air-cooling units—sometimes known as “swamp
coolers” to use a common (but not always popular) colloquialism—cool and
humidify air via the evaporation of water into an air stream. The energy required to convert water to
vapor results in the air stream being cooled close to the wet-bulb temperature
(thereby raising the humidity of the air and lowering its temperature). The equipment consists of a fan that draws
air over a wetted media, a recirculating water pump to keep the media wet, and
drain and fill valves to maintain water levels. Considered the most energy-efficient way to provide comfort
cooling, direct evaporative air coolers are used extensively in greenhouses,
agriculture, and hot-and-dry geographical regions.
An air washer is a variation of this technique wherein water
is kept to a low temperature by a chiller.
Air exits the air washer at a specific temperature (typically about 50oF),
fully saturated in water. This unit
humidifies the air in the winter and dehumidifies it in the summer. In all seasons, air washers clean the air of
particulates.
Water treatment of these systems through traditional
chemical methods can be problematic.
The air passing through the equipment is sent directly into areas where
people work. To avoid exposure problems
from residual chemicals, many operators use no water treatment. However, not treating the water at all
causes other problems, including slime and scale. Frequent cleaning is required to control the smell, biological
activity, and scale buildup. (The
bothersome odorous effects are obviously the basis behind the “swamp cooler”
designation.) With an active biofilm or increasing slime, it is also possible
that pathogen bacteria such as Legionella can flourish in these units if
the temperature rises above 77o F.
Dolphin pulsed-power technology has proven itself as the
solution to this water-treatment problem, since it controls both microbial
activity and scaling electronically, without any chemicals. A recent retrofit of a Dolphin System on a
direct evaporative humidification unit at a manufacturing facility in eastern
Pennsylvania was an unqualified success.
After two months of operation, the water is crystal clear and there is
no scale, slime, or odor. The facility
will be installing Dolphin Systems on the remainder of the humidification units
this summer. “Besides easier
maintenance, the Dolphin has improved employee relations and removed a serious
potential health problem of Legionella,” according to the facilities
engineer.
The figure below represents a typical setup of a Dolphin
System on a direct evaporative cooler.
The Dolphin is installed on the recirculating loop. A three-way valve is used to direct water to
the top of the media when cooling/humidification is required and to the pan
when it is not (not shown in drawing).
The pump and the Dolphin run all the time to prevent a stagnant water
situation. Clearwater recommends that
an automatic blowdown be used—either a conductivity meter or timer-activated
instrumentation.
Dolphins Along the Monongahela
The
American Institute of Architecture Committee on the Environment (AIA/COTE)
selected its top ten Green Projects for 2001 on Earth Day this spring. This initiative was taken in partnership with
the U.S. Department of Energy. One of
the largest buildings on this prestigious list is the 750,000 square-foot PNC
Firstside Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
The chemical-free water treatment technology used in both the HVAC and
cascades (rivers and falls) is the Dolphin SystemTM.
PNC Firstside Center
Along the Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is therefore protected from any
chemically treated water discharges, and the PNC Firstside Center serves as a
leading example of a Brownfields revitalization project—the transformation of
an abandoned rail yard into a state-of-the-art environmental and economic
beacon. We at Clearwater are understandably delighted to be a part of this
project and a part of Pittsburgh, where we currently have over a dozen Dolphin
System installations.
An Excerpt from the PNC Firstside AIA/COTE Entry Regarding Water Conservation |
|
Erosion and sediment control systems were used during
construction. A high-efficiency subsurface drip irrigation system was installed
that reduces usage of potable water for irrigation by 50 percent. The building uses water-conserving
plumbing fixtures. Water features
(cascades, rivers, and falls) were designed to re-circulate and purify the
water without chemicals rather than relying on a constant fresh supply. The building contains no chemical water
treatment for its HVAC system.
Instead it uses an [Dolphin pulsed power]
electromagnetic system. |
Treasury Secretary
Inspired Environmental Improvements as Business Executive
·
Pulsed-Power in the Picture ·
Treasury Secretary O’Neill
When Paul H. O’Neill was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary
of the Treasury last January, presumedly few people were thinking about his
environmental record. Most news reports
and stories focused on his former private-sector position as Chairman/CEO of
Alcoa from 1987 to the end of 2000.
O’Neill was described as a low-key team player with his eye trained on
profits and “no-nonsense” strategies for future growth. Shortly after assuming the helm at Alcoa, he
and his fellow officers did away with hierarchic attitudes and used open work
quads, not private offices, even for top executives.
O’Neill’s unique experience in transforming an “old economy
firm” into a new economy corporation—buoyed by his insights on international
finance and the global economy—has been documented by the Harvard Business
School and studied at graduate business schools throughout the nation. His knowledge of federal budget details and
processes stems from his tenure at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget,
where he served from 1967 to 1977, with the last four years as deputy director
of OMB.
With such a prestigious background in economics, who would
think the Secretary had any time for attention to environmental issues? It is
safe to say that such issues became an important aspect of his financial
management considerations, since Alcoa (for example) adapted a number of
pollution prevention and other environmental improvement initiatives during his
watch at the company. Alcoa’s World
Headquarters at the Alcoa Corporate Center on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh
were being designed during O’Neill’s tenure to incorporate sustainable
environment goals. O’Neill, an
accomplished amateur watercolorist, accentuated the proposed curving south wall
several times by sketching on the architects’ drawings. “I am thrilled with what we together have
created here,” he said at the time. “There is the sense of being on the river
and connected to the bridges. The site
is great and should be fine for us for 50 to 100 years. The
building…demonstrates that rivers are a source of life and we shouldn’t turn
our backs on them.” These sentiments coincide with O’Neill’s reputed dislike
for corporate pretentiousness or imposing too much on the environment.
One environmentally sustainable innovation at Aloca’s World
Headquarters was the installation of Dolphin pulsed-power technology
units. Their chemical-free application
to both cooling towers and boilers at the facility made certain that no
chemicals would be released into the adjacent Allegheny River. Alcoa has since purchased Dolphin units for
three manufacturing facilities, and more applications are slated for the near
future.
Who’s to say, but if environmental improvements make sense
to someone whose knowledge of complicated budgets is legendary, advanced
water-treatment technology and other environmental improvements may have
another friend in Washington.
THE
DOLPHIN SYSTEMTM MAKES CHANNEL 8 NEWS IN TAMPA
New
Anchor Bob Hite
Orient Road Jail in Tampa, Hilsborough County, Florida
WFLA Channel 8 in Tampa aired a two-minute news story in
March about a Dolphin pulsed-power technology application on a large cooling
tower at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa, Florida. The jail is one of the largest direct-supervision facilities in
the nation and one of the first to have a central booking facility designed for
direct-supervision management. The physical layout involved two symmetrical
nuclei accommodating twelve housing pods.
Each pod is separated by administrative and support facilities as part
of the design solution to fulfill direct-supervision requirements.
Using on-site filming and a testimonial by the end user,
news anchor Bob Hite showcased the superior performance, environmental
benefits, and cost-savings of the Dolphin’s pulsed-power technology. He described the major benefits of the
Dolphin in terms of answering Florida’s market need: “The cost of water isn’t
going down, and its availability seems to be going away.” The pulsed-power technology was then
described as saving millions of gallons of water a year, saving taxpayers
money, and appealing to environmentalists.
Bruce Sullivan, Maintenance Manager of the Hilsborough County Jail on
Orient Road, described his satisfaction with the Dolphin’s performance. “It works, it’s proven, it’s something I’m
really proud of, it’s easy to maintain, and it takes the guesswork out of doing
things.” Payback is estimated at one to
two years, with savings in water and no need for chemicals going on for years
thereafter.
UPCOMING ·Conferences · Seminars · Trade Shows · Expositions · UPCOMING |
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Event |
Date & Location |
Points of Contact |
|
American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). The 38th
Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition. 35 educational sessions, ranging from JCAHO updates, green
building initiatives, and technology assessments to wireless patient care
panels and facility master plans. |
July 16-18, 2001 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida |
ASHE/American Hospital Association P.O. Box 75315 Chicago, IL 60675-5315 Questions: 312-422-3800 Fax: 312-422-4571 |
|
Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials
Management (AHRMM). The 39th Annual Conference &
Exhibition. A focus on how current issues in healthcare affect healthcare
delivery and integration of services. |
July 29-August 1, 2001 Adam’s Mark Hotel Denver, Colorado |
AHA/AHRMM P.O. Box 75315 Chicago, IL 60675-5315 Questions: 773-622-5648 Fax: 312-422-4573 |
|
Facilities America 2001 Conference & Exposition.
Sponsored by the Association of Facilities Engineers (AFE) in conjunction
with the Technical Expositions and Conference, Inc. (TEC). |
September 25-27, 2001 Tropicana Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, Nevada |
TEC, Inc. 2011 Assembly St., Suite 204 Columbia, SC 29210 Questions: 803-779-7123, Ext. 18 Fax: 803-779-7167 |
|
Texas Renewable Energy Roundup: Green Living &
Sustainability Fair. Featuring
technologies, techniques, and lifestyles for renewable energy, green and
sustainable buildings, organic and sustainable gardening, and farming. |
September 28-30, 2001 Fredericksburg, Texas |
Russel Smith Texas Renewable Energy Industries Assn. Texas Solar Energy Society Questions: 512-345-5446 |
|
Association of Water Technologies Exposition. AWT’s annual convention and exposition. |
October 9-11, 2001 Wyndham Anatole Hotel Dallas, Texas |
Association of Water Technologies 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300 McLean, VA 22102 Questions: 703-610-9012 |
|
Water Environment Federation Conference & Exhibition. The WEF 2001, 74th annual event
showcasing a significant assembly of wastewater and water-quality products
and services. Conference topics include
municipal wastewater treatment, industrial issues and treatment technology
management, and facility operations. |
October 13-17, 2001 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia |
Water Environment Federation 601 Wythe Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1994 Questions: 1-800-666-0206 Fax: 1-703-684-2492 |
|
International Water Conference. A
technical forum for advances in the areas of industrial, utility, and
wastewater technology. Features include a technical program, exhibit hall,
and information-sharing suites. |
October 21-25, 2001 Westin William Penn Hotel Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Engineers’ Society: Western Pennsylvania 337 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Questions: 412-261-0710 Fax: 412-261-1606 |
|
Engineering & Environmental Building Association
(EEBA) Conference. Information on building residences that are
energy and environmentally conscious, durable, and cost-effective. |
October 24-27, 2001 Rosen Center Hotel Orlando, Florida |
EEBA 10740 Lyndale Avenue South, Suite 10W Bloomington, MN 55420-5615 Questions: 952-881-1098 Fax: 952-881-3048 |
|
American Society of Plumbing Engineers Convention and
Technical Symposium. The ASPE
disseminates technical data to expand the base of knowledge of the plumbing
engineering industry. |
November 1-4, 2001 St. Louis, Missouri |
American Society of Plumbing Engineers 8614 Catalpa Avenue, Suite 1007 Chicago, IL 60656-1116 Questions: 773-693-2773 Fax: 773-695-9007 |