Northeast Office Building´s Electric Heat Recovery System Provides Design Flexibility and Economy

The Merchants Mutual Insurance Company Building in Buffalo, N. Y., is the result of an exhaustive study into building systems. After evaluating all available environmental systems, the architect and engineers chose an electric heat recovery system which provided maximum flexibility and the best air conditioning at the lowest operating cost. The studies undertaken in the initial phases of building design are discussed, as are the estimated operating costs prepared by the utility company. System diagrams explain the total electric operation of the building. Submetering of lighting, air-handling fans, air conditioning compressors, water circulating pumps, main duct heaters, sidewalk heaters, hot water heaters, air duct heaters, and unit heaters provide the basis for a report of the first year of operation of the electric heat recovery system. Total cost of electrical energy for all uses of the building averages 29 cents per square foot.