SMI Impact

Estimated first-year savings from steam trap upgrades: $62,590

Significant reduction in energy waste and lower operating costs

Improved system reliability and performance, ensuring comfortable and efficient heating for students and staff

Helped the customer secure $300,000 in rebates to lower the project cost

Customer

Steam Management Inc. (SMI) was contracted by an ESCO to develop a scope of work and provide installation services for West Babylon School District in West Babylon, New York. The project involved steam trap retrofits and replacements and thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) installations to improve efficiency and reduce energy loss across seven school buildings.

Conditions

The ESCO customer was engaging with the school district on a comprehensive energy savings performance contract (ESPC) that included the steam system upgrades. The sales cycle for the ESPC including the SED review and contracting process exceeded the available window for National Grid prescriptive gas rebates. The buildings were aging with piping and equipment that was mostly original which created challenges for retrofitting.

Original equipment was in a predominantly failed state and the buildings were overheating due to lack of heating controls and deferred maintenance. Our initial system survey revealed an average 29% steam trap failure rate across all buildings, leading to energy loss of approximately 7 million lbs/year resulting in $62,497 of potential savings per year.

Solutions

SMI worked with the ESCO to fast track a steam trap retrofit program that allowed the school district to capitalize on prescriptive rebates that covered 90% of the installed cost.

We worked over multiple years to install the project in separate phases to allow the customer to take full advantage of the available National Grid gas rebates that were going to expire.

Secured National Grid rebates, reducing the project cost from approximately $500,000 to just $200,000.
Conducted a comprehensive steam trap survey across all seven schools.
Installed and retrofitted steam traps to prevent heat loss and improve efficiency.
Installed TRVs to prevent overheating in unoccupied spaces, lower operating costs, and extend system lifespan.

Key Actions

Generated line-by-line steam trap survey and as-built
Ultrasonic testing of steam traps
881 thermostatic steam traps replaced or retrofitted
165 mechanical steam traps replaced or retrofitted
188 TRVs installed to optimize heat distribution and reduce energy waste
13 vacuum breakers replaced to improve system efficiency
Provided hands-on training for school maintenance teams on proper steam trap maintenance and repair
Prepared final application schedule and product submittal for project approval
Managed material purchasing
Coordinated rebate application process and paperwork, ensuring seamless funding through National Grid incentives
Complete project commissioning, punch list and sign-off walk-throughs
Provide O&M Manual with material and workmanship warranty

By leveraging utility incentives and implementing targeted steam system upgrades, we helped West Babylon School District significantly reduce energy losses, improve heating efficiency, and cut operational costs without exceeding budget constraints.

Schedule an Assessment of Your Facility

info@steammgt.com
1-800-731-0131