Carrier Corporate News

CONTACT:   Jonathan Shaw
Carrier Corporation
(315) 432-3147

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STAYS COOL WITH FIRST CARRIER AIR-COOLED, ECOLOGICTM CHILLER

HOUSTON, TX, March 7 -- When the air conditioning system at the Texas Department of Transportation's (DOT) Houston annex broke down last summer, officials saw an opportunity to upgrade the HVAC system and install a reliable, energy-efficient, environmentally responsible chiller. Their choice: Carrier's new air-cooled 30GX EcologicTM chiller, engineered from the ground up to use chlorine-free refrigerant HFC-134a. Coupled with Carrier controls, the Ecologic chiller helps the Texas DOT reduce energy costs by up to 50 percent.

The Houston district of the Texas DOT is the largest district in the nation's second largest state. Its job is to keep things moving throughout the sprawling metropolis. The 300 employees at the district's Houston annex do a better job of helping motorists keep their cool when they themselves are cool and comfortable.

So when it came time to select a new chiller for the 35,000 sq ft building, the DOT looked for one that could provide reliable, round-the-clock service under demanding conditions. They chose the Ecologic chiller, but considering the reliability factor, one might ask, "why a new product?"

Both the 30GX Ecologic air-cooled chiller, and its water-cooled sister, the 30HX Ecologic, have undergone extensive laboratory and field testing for reliability and software validation, aimed at minimizing reliability concerns.

"I've been in this business 40 years, and I've always specified Carrier equipment for its reliability and service," says O.D. Shelton, building manager for the Houston district of the Texas Department of Transportation. "I like the design of this chiller, the fact that it's very quiet, is compatible with our CCN (Carrier Comfort Network) controls and that we don't have to worry about refrigerant phase-out."

Texas is home to many firsts, and now it can add the 30GX Ecologic chiller to that list. "We're proud to have installed the first air-cooled Ecologic chiller in North America," says Steve Collings, president, HVAC Mechanical, Inc. "This is a first-rate system that's going to help open a lot of doors for us in this market. There are a lot of 20- to 25-year-old buildings in Houston that are in need of new chillers, and this is the right product at the right time."

Both chillers feature cable-ready boards to connect with CCN, enabling building owners to save money on maintenance and energy costs. The Houston annex already had CCN installed when the time came to replace its chiller.

Much like the traffic alert systems used by the DOT to direct motorists to less-congested roadways, CCN alerts Shelton to potential problems before they become big problems, helping him to direct cooling where its needed most. "This helps us to save up to 50 percent on energy costs, key for a state government department intent on doing more for the taxpayers while saving them money," says Shelton.

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but this doesn't apply to Carrier's Ecologic chiller. Its compact footprint means it's up to 50 percent smaller that most of the chillers it replaces, making it easier for contractors to rig and set up.

"When you combine the chlorine-free refrigerant, low sound levels, smaller footprint, controls compatibility and overall reliability, you have a `can't miss' system that will make building owners and managers look like geniuses," says Bruce Orcutt, systems sales consultant, Automatic Equipment Sales of Houston. "We'll be able to bring potential customers to this site to witness first-hand the many fine attributes of the Ecologic chiller. It's a very impressive package."

The Houston DOT building's old chiller broke down for good at the end of last summer, so HVAC Mechanical set up a temporary system while final preparations were made for the new Ecologic chiller. Within a half-hour after the Ecologic's start-up, the four-story building was noticeably cooler, and the traffic engineering, road and building maintenance personnel much happier.

Carrier Corporation is the world's 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 automobile industries.

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