CBRE Three Snowhill: 125,000 kWh Annual Savings
CBRE's UK facilities management team needed to make measurable progress towards its Science Based Target of Net Zero by 2035. Smartcool installed ESM™ on four chillers at Three Snowhill in Birmingham, delivering 25% energy savings, 125,000 kWh in annual savings, and a payback period of 19.3 months.
Results at a rate of 19p/kWh. Higher energy rates result in shorter payback periods and higher ROI.
The Challenge
CBRE has committed to reaching Net Zero across its UK facilities management business by 2035, in line with a Science Based Target. Reducing energy consumption at the large commercial buildings it manages is a core part of delivering on that commitment. Smartcool was invited to run a pilot project at Three Snowhill, a commercial office building in Birmingham, to demonstrate what was achievable on the building's chiller plant.
Our Approach
Smartcool's ESM™ technology was installed on four Trane RTAF 250 HSEN chillers at Three Snowhill. ESM™ is designed for complex multi-compressor environments such as chillers and refrigeration racks. It dynamically adjusts control parameters to keep compressors operating at higher, more energy-efficient suction pressures for longer, reducing run time and total energy consumption without compromising temperature conditions. Device-level energy monitoring was provided by Panoramic Power, with results captured over a direct monthly comparison with the ESM™ active and then bypassed.
The Results
The pilot produced a 25% average reduction in chiller energy consumption (site dependent) at a rate of 19p/kWh, with a savings ratio of 3.28 kWh/m². Projected annual savings total over 125,000 kWh, with a payback period of 19.3 months and a return on investment of 62%. The carbon savings work out at a cost of £0.83 per kg CO₂, making this one of the most cost-effective decarbonisation measures available for large commercial buildings.
Want to learn more? Explore our ESM™ and ECO3™ compressor optimisation technology or see how Panoramic Power monitors your equipment at circuit level.
Talk to Our Team
If you manage commercial buildings or large-scale cooling infrastructure and are working towards Net Zero commitments, book a free call with one of our experts. We will take the time to understand your building's systems and give you a clear view of what ESM™ can deliver at your sites.