Design-build solutions can make multifamily HVAC conversions that improve building efficiency faster and more affordable. SageWater did it for Dweck Properties at The Horizons Apartments in Arlington, VA. The owners gained an energy-efficient Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) system, and residents gained four season control of the temperature in their apartments. Our turnkey repipe project included engineering and successfully installing the system while it was occupied by residents. During the two-pipe hydronic system upgrade, we decommissioned the chiller, installed new pumps, boilers, and heat exchangers, and swapped fan coil units with WSHPs.
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The biggest challenge for this project is, without a doubt, the impact it has on the residents. You’re doing this work in occupied apartments, and that’s a scary thing for the residents to hear.
We knew that there were some mechanical issues with the hydronic risers. All we had was just heating and cooling seasonally. We had several leaks everywhere. Risers were leaking left and right, so we needed to upgrade our infrastructure.
Before we contacted SageWater for this job, we were chasing sort of a different mechanical path. We were looking at a VRF installation, and as we were thinking about the costs and what that delivers to residents and what that means for mechanical upgrades, it became really clear that we were sort of going down the wrong path.
SageWater gave us not only the way to execute the idea that we had, but they gave us a better idea that would meet our budget. SageWater has all the expertise in-house. They developed the drawings, they went to the county, they did the permits. So they kind of helicopter in and give you a solution from A to Z. They take over the engineering studies, they take over the abatement studies, they take over the design-build and the spec studies.
We really landed on a solid alternative that allowed us to transition to this water source heat pump system, which not only replaced the riser lines behind the wall but also allowed us to give a general improvement to the residents, and they can control both heating and cooling in all four seasons.
It made me feel like, you know, I should have thought of that first. It was just like an aha moment. This is what we want to do. It’s really a great feeling having a partner like SageWater, one that’s going to do the work as if they own the building and offering guidance that an owner wants and needs. As a whole, SageWater is just an outstanding partner to work with.
We’re happy to partner with a team like SageWater, who has a lot of expertise in doing this work in occupied apartments. They’re not trying to throw things in there to mark up your budget. They’re working with you on a practical solution for your building and offering you full transparency.