Tecogen CHP: Cost-Effective Sustainability

Sustainable technologies and solutions are the key to solving the most prolific and widespread problems that the environment faces today. At Tecogen, a wide array of sustainable products are available to not only reduce atmospheric emissions and help curb global warming, but also cut operating costs, boost reliability, and increase property values. Combined with the coordination and expertise of WinWerks, the implementation of these products can provide your business with added benefits by qualifying for EPA and other governmental incentives, as well as significant contributions to LEED points.


Cogeneration is one of the most cost-effective means to to provide electricity and heating to a property site, and may cost substantially less than other alternative sustainable technologies. Tecogen’s CHP systems operate by producing both electricity and heat at the same time, which results in drastic net gains of efficiency when compared to traditional energy sources. Furthermore, the production of electricity and heat on-site significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which are cut by up to 50%.  This is the fundamental outcome that makes Tecogen’s CHP an environmentally - friendly alternative to industrial scale power plants.

 

Is the site a good candidate for chp?

According to the EPA, buildings which fall into any of the following categories suggest that a building or site may be a good candidate for CHP:

  • Average electricity rates are more than $.07/kWh

  • There is an incentive to cut energy costs and hedge against future increases in electricity rates

  • The building is located in a deregulated electricity market

  • Power reliability is a concern. The building hosts sensitive electronic equipment and data or would otherwise suffer a significant financial impact if power goes out

  • The building operates more than 5,000 hours per year

  • The need for various thermal loads (such as steam, hot water, chilled water, or hot air) is consistent on an annual basis

Cogeneration is a win-win in terms of cost effectiveness and sustainability outcomes at properties that draw consistent loads of electricity and thermal energy. Sites where CHP is most applicable include hotels, senior care facilities, hospitals, large residential facilities, universities, recreational facilities, and government buildings. The efficiency gains and cost savings achieved by CHP can directly translate into LEED points due to their improvements offered as compared to the baseline building which only uses separate heat and power. Under the Optimize Energy Performance LEED credit, buildings which make use of technologies such as Tecogen CHP can qualify for up to 19 additional LEED points, accounting for 45% of the most basic LEED certification level.

 

TECOGEN INVERDE ULTRA 100 MODULE

Tecogen’s InVerde® Ultra 100 Ultra Low-Emissions Cogeneration Module is an excellent example of the possibilities available when it comes to the future of clean energy production. This module was built with sustainability in mind from the ground up using technology developed in partnership with the California Energy Commission, and delivers consistent performance with minimal impact on the environment. The inVerde Ultra 100 system offered by Tecogen vastly exceeds the strict emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board in 2007, as can be seen by the figure below.

Tecogen’s inverter and induction based CHP models, such as the INV-100, CM-60 and CM-75, deliver similar levels of performance and incorporate cutting edge technology to achieve extreme efficiency, while generating massive amounts of power. Due to these similar levels of performance and technology, these Tecogen models are sure to be efficient when generating power, but also cut costs in the process.

 

 

Tecogen Chillers

Tecogen’s TECOCHILL systems offer cost-effective, reliable and efficient performance all while outcompeting conventional electric powered chillers. TECOCHILL units are natural gas, engine-driven systems that can cut a building’s cooling costs by 50% by drastically reducing the amount of electricity consumed for cooling systems. This reduction in electricity consumption provides further benefit by reducing the electricity demand during hours of peak load, when electricity rates are most costly.

The efficiency gains achieved by TECOCHILL systems translate into real world emissions reductions. As can be seen in the figure above, TECOCHILL base models account for 9% less GHG emissions than a brand new electric chiller. With an added heat recovery module, TECOCHILL systems produce only 47% as many annual emissions as new electric chillers.

With more than 25 years of experience in packaged cogeneration, chillers, and refrigeration systems, Tecogen offers a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of your property, which are backed by performance and economic based analysis. Choose Tecogen and benefit with proven, cost-effective solutions that benefit the environment and drastically cut GHG emissions.