CONTACT: Tom Cunningham
Creamer Dickson Basford
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESERVING THE
PAST; PROTECTING THE FUTURE:
CARRIER CUSTOMIZES INDOOR WEATHER FOR MOUNT VERNON
MOUNT VERNON, Va., April 22 From the "Father of Air Conditioning" comes a gift to the Father of our Country. Though they lived more than a century apart, the legacy of Dr. Willis Carrier is playing a role in preserving the legacy of George Washington.
The installation of a Carrier climate control system in one of the nations most revered historic homes, Washingtons Mount Vernon, will enable its treasured collections to be preserved for future generations.
Carrier Corporation, along with officials from Mount Vernon, today announced the installation of a Model 30GX EcologicTM air-cooled screw chiller, six air handlers on the historic grounds and two WeatherMaker® central air conditioners from the new line of units that use PuronTM refrigerant. In addition to long-term protection of the historic collections Carriers installation, a gift to Mount Vernon and the nation, will make possible special exhibitions planned for the 1999 bicentennial of George Washingtons death.
While tourist comfort will be a key benefit, the main reason for the installation is long-term preservation of the approximately 260-year-old structure and its contents. Artifacts, such as china, furniture and other personal memorabilia requiring a climate-controlled environment will finally come home.
Maintaining a Delicate Balance to Preserve the Past
Mount Vernon is known for selecting leaders when it comes to facility upgrades. Thomas Edison installed the first electrical system, and Henry Ford provided the facilitys first fire engine. So when the decision was made to replace the vintage 1899 heating system with a state-of-the-art HVAC system, Mount Vernon sought out Carrier because of its leadership and because of the companys experience with historic structures.
"Frankly the prospect of installing an air conditioning system in the mansion had always terrified us because of the potentially damaging effects it could pose to a structure of this age and historical significance," said James C. Rees, IV, executive director of Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens. "The mansion is a one-of-a-kind original not a restoration."
To address these concerns, a Carrier team experienced in "preservation cooling" is designing a system that will house the air handlers in underground vaults, while carefully snaking ductwork through closets and between rafters wherever possible, explained Rick Fedrizzi, director of environmental marketing and communications for Carrier.
"Climate control for preservation is very different from climate control for a modern home or commercial building," Fedrizzi said. "Special care needs to be taken with old, uninsulated wood-frame structures such as Mount Vernon. Otherwise, the effects of heating, cooling and humidity control from a modern HVAC system could create condensation problems that could throw the building and its contents into shock.
"Using experience gained from its installation at the Sistine Chapel and other historic sites, Carriers engineers understand the issues involved in preserving the past through climate control," Fedrizzi added.
"Climate control for preservation means moderate adjustments to indoor weather conditions," said Dennis J. Pogue, director of restoration for Mount Vernon. "If its 90 degrees outside, we may keep the temperature at 80 degrees inside comfortable, but not too cool. The first priority is to preserve the infrastructure of the mansion and out-buildings, as well as their contents. Eighty degrees may not be a comfortable setting for your home or office, but it may be an ideal setting for the preservation of Mount Vernon, while providing noticeable relief to our visitors."
Demonstrating how precious documents and other artifacts will be protected by climate control, Mount Vernon officials showcased George Washingtons final will, borrowed from Fairfax County, Va., for todays announcements.
"A moderated atmosphere is required for optimum preservation of fabrics, documents, decorative wooden elements or simply wood veneers, metals and other materials," explained Carter King Laughlin, Mount Vernons curator. "Climate control is one of the reasons we will be able to bring home so many of Washingtons artifacts which have been maintained by collectors and museums around the country. Without a modern climate control system, we are limited in the variety of historical artifacts we can borrow from other collections to display here."
The Least Intrusive Option
Carrier has been working with the Mount Vernon staff for nearly two years to design an installation with minimal disruption to the structure. A Model 30GX Ecologic air-cooled chiller using chlorine-free refrigerant R-134a, will be located in a wooded area about 200 yards from the mansion, hidden from the view of visitors by the forest tree line. Two of the six Model 39T central station air handlers will be housed outside near the mansion in below-grade vaults. Venting will be run through closets and between rafters to all three floors of the mansion.
The chiller also will cool the estates museum, servants hall and the reconstructed greenhouse, which are being renovated in preparation for the bicentennial. Additionally, the museums gallery is being renovated to prepare it for on-site exhibitions featuring important Mount Vernon objects from its own collections and items borrowed for the bicentennial.
Protecting the Future: An Environmentally Sound Approach
Protecting the environment is an important aspect of the installation. Two high efficiency WeatherMaker air conditioners were installed this week at the Mount Vernon resident directors home, a 20th century structure located on the estate. The units are part of the first full-line of residential air conditioners that use the new chlorine-free environmentally sound Puron refrigerant.
"Puron is the refrigerant of the future that is here today," said Rick DeMarco, vice president of marketing for Carrier Residential and Light Commercial Products. "Federal law requires the phase-out of many refrigerants by the year 2010 because of their ozone depleting qualities. Puron is an environmentally sound choice that will never be phased out, so homeowners dont have to be concerned about compromising on energy-efficiency or protecting the ozone layer. By installing air conditioners that use environmentally sound refrigerants at Mount Vernon, we are assuring that the First Home, can avoid future problems associated with servicing or replacing systems based on older refrigerants."
Carrier Corporation is the worlds largest manufacturer of heating and air conditioning systems and equipment. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, provider of a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace, building systems and automotive industries.
The Mount Vernon Ladies Association, founded in 1853, is a private non-profit organization that owns and operates the Estate of George and Martha Washington. Through a variety of interpretive programs on the estate, as well as in classrooms across the nation, the Association communicates the character and leadership of Washington to millions of Americans each year. Admission fees, together with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon.
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