–Fernwood Botanical Garden | Hitachi VRF project in Michigan, USA
VRF
The place: the new SIMS Education Center is all about nature’s preservation
Located in Michigan, the Fernwood Botanical Garden is dedicated to the preservation of nature, and recently opened the new SIMS education center to support the transmission of knowledge. SIMS is a multi-functional building, accommodating classrooms, exhibition spaces and a library. Private events are also held so guests can enjoy the breathtaking surroundings.
Reflecting the organization’s values, the SIMS Center was designed with special attention to sustainability.
- The design of the building utilizes numerous windows to create viewing areas of birds and a local ravine.
- The design makes the best use of natural light.
- Beehives have been installed on the rooftop to contribute to the local flora and fauna.
- Sustainable materials were sourced to reduce the carbon footprint
The solution: Heating and cooling delivered all year long while saving energy
Hitachi’s VRF System was the perfect solution to provide heating and cooling that is energy efficient, reliable, quiet, and allows for minimal disruption to the design aesthetic of the space.
During Michigan’s cold winters, Hitachi VRF can sustain low ambient temperatures down to -13˚F (-25˚C) while delivering powerful heating using energy-saving heat recovery technology. The top-flow outdoor units were fitted with an Hitachi snow-cover accessory to prevent damage during heavy snowfalls. During mid-season, the Hitachi VRF system can recover the exhaust heat from cooling rooms to warm up the rooms in need of heat. This 3-pipe heat recovery technology combines two benefits:
- Energy-saving: as exhausted heat is efficiently re-used
- Improved comfort: cooling and heating is delivered simultaneously, ideal for North-facing vs South-facing rooms or in cases of varying occupancy levels
A phase converter was used to allow the three-phase VRF outdoor unit to operate on single-phase power. Refrigerant piping was then run along the ceiling trusses, and a combination of cassettes and wall-mounted indoor units were utilized for minimal disruption of the viewing space.
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Location
Michigan, USA
Project
New built
Date of installation
2018
Total System Capacity
24 tons
Outdoor units
2 units, each at 12-Ton with Snow kit (HVAHR_B32S)
Indoor units
2 Units, each at 2/3-Ton (TIWM_B21S), 3 units at 3-Ton, 1 unit at 1½-Ton and 1 unit at 2½ Ton (HIC4_B21S)
