CONTACT: Tom Cunningham
Creamer Dickson Basford
(412) 456-7837
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FACTS ABOUT THE MOUNT VERNON CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
As a gift to Mount Vernon and the nation, Carrier Corporation has donated equipment and expertise to install the first HVAC system in George Washingtons home. The equipment will protect buildings and furnishings while providing a level of comfort for the homes one million annual visitors.
What Buildings are Affected?
The buildings that will be affected by the installation are: the Mansion, the servants hall, the greenhouse and the museum. All but the museum will be climate controlled, meaning temperatures will be moderated to within 10oF of the outdoor temperature. This will allow windows and doors to be kept closed, reducing dust and UV light, while still maintaining a level of comfort. The museum, which is a 20th century structure, will be maintained at a consistent 70oF and 50% humidity (+/- 5%), in accordance with prevailing museum standards.
Why Not Maintain 70oF in All Buildings?
Most historic homes lack the insulation found in modern buildings. Dramatic contrasts of hot and cold between the outside and inside have been known to create serious condensation problems especially in the hollow wall cavities. Moisture build-up can cause wood to rot and plaster to soften. Additionally, historic furnishings subjected to sudden changes in temperature can be affected for example, veneers and ivory inlays can become loose. Ceramics, metal, paper, textiles, and wood sometimes require their own temperature settings and are better kept in museums. Mount Vernons museum will now be better equipped to handle this.
What are the Benefits of Climate Control?
Mount Vernon will be able to control the temperature, humidity and air filtration with its new HVAC system. In the main building, this means that windows can be kept closed in the summer to keep dust at bay. All of the Mansions window panes have UV filters, which help to protect fabric from fading. When the windows are opened, the benefit of UV protection is lost.
Why did Mount Vernon Select Carrier?
When Mount Vernons administrators decided to replace its vintage 1899 heating system with a state-of-the-art HVAC system, they chose Carrier because of the companys experience in historic structures. Also, Mount Vernon has a tradition of selecting leaders when it comes to changes to the facility. When the electrical system was installed, Mount Vernon turned to Thomas Edison. Henry Ford, appreciating the fact that the structure was made entirely of wood, contributed the first fire engine, and Ford has been providing vehicles ever since. "With Carriers founder, Willis Carrier, being the inventor of air conditioning, and with the company being the biggest and best, we never even discussed the matter with another firm," said Jim Rees, resident director.
The Equipment
EcologicTM Air-cooled Screw Chiller This chiller will be located on a concrete pad 200 yards northeast of the mansion by early-Fall, 1998. The Model 30GX Ecologic chiller being installed at Mount Vernon is a 115-ton unit using R-134a, a chlorine-free, non-ozone depleting refrigerant. Easy to install and exceptionally efficient, Ecologic chillers offer quiet operation along with economic and practical performance, without compromising environmental responsibility.
Model 39T Central Station Air Handlers The Ecologic chiller will supply cold water via underground lines to six Model 39T air handlers. Two air handlers will be located in a single underground vault about 100 feet north of the mansion. They will provide cooling to both the main building and the servants hall, which is linked by a colonnade. The other air handlers will be located adjacent to the buildings they serve -- the museum, a 20th century structure, and the greenhouse, which is a 1950s reconstruction of the original 18th century structure. Chief among the Model 39T air handlers standard features is its efficient, modular design resulting in a high degree of customization and a smaller footprint than competitive models. This makes it the ideal air handler to conform to the unusual underground installation at Mount Vernon.
WeatherMaker™ Air Conditioners with PuronTM Refrigerant Two WeatherMaker air conditioners will serve the Resident Directors house, a 20th century structure that is located on the estate. The units are part of Carriers new full line of high-efficiency air-conditioning and heat pump systems to use the chlorine-free, environmentally sound refrigerant Puron. Puron is Carriers brand name for refrigerant R-410A, which is recognized by the HVAC industry as the leading replacement for the ozone-depleting refrigerant R-22 in the next generation of residential cooling and heating systems.
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