The Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse was built on the Boston waterfront. Construction of the 10-story, 765,000 square
foot, crescent shaped building
is complete and began in 1995. The contractors and subcontractors worked together, or partnered, to complete the
project on time and on budget.
The 27 courtrooms are all paneled which necessitated strict temperature and humidity control to prevent shrinking and/or swelling.
Prior to installing the paneling the building was tight and Flaherty's systems were
installed and operational providing the humidification and dehumidification
necessary for timely completion of the project.
The building's sloping conoid glass wall allows for a magnificent view of Boston Harbor, but increases heating and cooling costs.
the solution was to take advantage of cheaper electricity rates at night by making ice. Three 600-ton high efficiency chillers manufacture
ice which is stored in 22 ice storage units located in a sub-basement of the courthouse.
After a night of ice making, a glycol solution is circulated through the ice storage tanks bleeding off the stored energy,
which is recovered by the systems plate-to-plate heat exchangers.
The Trane Co. and Calmac Co. manufactured the ice storage system which can provide more than 75% of the buildings cooling load.
High efficiency chillers provide the balance. There are three benefits to this
innovative thermal storage system:
- Operational Benefit: significant savings in both energy costs and peak demand charges
- Investment Benefit: a 2.7 to 3.2 year anticipated payback.
- Environmental Benefit: reduced carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions
The partnering relationship brings the best to the project, details are coordinated and conflicts are resolved early on in the
project allowing for smooth implementation in the field. The client benefits from controlled costs, efficient field
installation and a project completed on-time.
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