Variable-speed Drive Chillers: Energy Savings and Sustainability

Shrinking your carbon footprint while maintaining nominal building operation might seem like a lofty goal, but variable-speed drive (VSD) chillers make it possible.

Fred Berry, Chiller Portfolio Manager, Chiller Solutions, Building Technologies & Solutions, Johnson Controls, shares insight in this article published by FacilityManangement.com.

Berry shares how YORK® VSD chillers can effectively reduce energy consumption in buildings. As any experienced building manager knows, heating and cooling can account for almost 40% of energy consumption in a building. VSD chillers help reduce that consumption through cooling load or capacity, as Berry explains:

“As their name indicates, VSDs slow the motor speed on the chiller at lower loads. Whenever a VSD can be slowed to match lower capacity requirements (and this may not always occur depending on the chiller operating profile), energy consumption can also be lowered – by as much as 15 percent.”

Berry then explains how a lower lift can further help energy savings, and why YORK® VSD chillers are well equipped to handle off-design conditions.

Variable-speed drives slow motor speeds to match lower capacity requirements. This can reduce energy consumption by as much as 15%.

• Reduce energy costs
• Match capacity load requirements
• Achieve lower lift to boost energy savings