Last March, Jamin Jones went to conduct a routine energy audit at George W. McPherson Park, a 97-unit apartment building for elderly and disabled residents.
Jones, Action Inc.’s Multi-Family Building Performance Specialist, was looking for ways to improve the building’s energy efficiency – but was stopped in his tracks when he discovered the heating and hot water system were no longer working properly.
“The system needed immediate replacement, not only for energy efficiency’s sake, but for health and safety reasons,” Jones said. “If not addressed, the system would soon produce potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.”
“This job was now our highest priority,” Jones said.
Action Inc.’s Energy Services team kicked into gear, working around the clock for seven straight days to complete a total upgrade of the building’s heating and hot water system. By the end of one week, the entire system had been replaced.
– David Houlden, Gloucester Housing Authority Executive Director
Action Inc.’s Energy team continued working over the next few weeks to make additional energy efficiency upgrades, including improved lighting for living spaces, common spaces, and the building’s exterior.
These upgrades – and particularly the new heating and hot water system – have made a tremendous impact at McPherson Park.
“[Colin Heneghan, Action Inc.’s Heating Systems Specialist,] and the newly installed system’s manufacturer determined it to be running at top efficiency,” Jones said. “The efficiency of the working heating system went from a poorly operating 74.5% to an amazing 95.4%. We estimate a respectable 20% fuel cost savings annually. The manufacturer of the boilers is considering making a case study based on the huge success of this upgrade.”
This is great news – both for the building’s residents and for Gloucester Housing Authority, the property owner.
Executive Director of Gloucester Housing Authority David Houlden said, “Action Energy’s multi-family retrofit program provided us with state-of-the-art boilers, lighting and appliances, which saved our agency over $200,000 that can now be used for building renovations.”
