Health Clubs Archives | Controlled Air, Inc.

Microgrid, Middletown CT | Middletown Recreation Center

Controlled Air Inc. — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:52:17 +0000

Middletown Recreation Center Embraces a Resilient and Sustainable Future with a New Microgrid

In a significant step towards energy independence and sustainability, the Middletown Recreation Center has completed the installation of a new microgrid system. This project is a cornerstone of the city’s broader efforts to modernize its infrastructure and ensure the community’s safety and comfort, particularly during extreme weather events.

The new recreation center, built on the former site of the Woodrow Wilson Middle School, is not only a hub for community activities with renovated gyms and pools but also serves a vital role as a designated heating and cooling center during power outages. The microgrid is the key to this resilience, allowing the facility to operate independently of the main power grid.

The system is a complex, hybrid energy solution designed and engineered by Clarke Energy in collaboration with other partners. Controlled Air, Inc. worked with Clarke Energy to create an energy-efficient solution that integrated a Yanmar combined heat and power (CHP) unit and a Yanmar gas heat pump (GHP) system. The core of the microgrid is the 35kW CHP unit, which provides both electricity and high-efficiency hot water for showers and the pool. This is complemented by a solar photovoltaic (PV) array that generates renewable electricity, with a battery energy storage system (BESS) to save surplus energy for later use. A backup gas-fueled generator from Kohler provides an additional layer of resilience, ensuring the facility can remain powered for extended periods.

This innovative system is designed to provide both parallel power during normal operation and “island mode” capability during a grid outage. The entire system is managed by a centralized microgrid controller, which optimizes the different energy sources for maximum efficiency and reliability. The project is expected to reduce the center’s carbon dioxide emissions by 192 tons per year, aligning with the city’s goals for a more sustainable future.

The Middletown Recreation Center microgrid is an excellent example of how communities can invest in infrastructure that not only serves their daily needs but also provides critical support in emergencies. It represents a forward-thinking approach to energy management, combining sustainability with an unwavering commitment to public safety and resilience.

The Middletown Recreation Center’s new system is fully protected by a 20-year parts and labor contract. Controlled Air and Yanmar are committed to providing a reliable, long-term, and energy-efficient solution by guaranteeing dedicated parts and service for the equipment.

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CHP Installation, Southington CT | YMCA

Controlled Air Inc. — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:44:38 +0000

SOUTHINGTON YMCA

Controlled Air installed a Yanmar cogeneration system in coordination with a new boiler plant and domestic hot water production to reduce energy costs for the Southington YMCA. Our work included the mechanical demolition and removal of existing oil tanks, boilers, domestic hot water tanks, and remaining equipment from the previous co-generation system. At the heart of the new system, we furnished and installed two 35kW Yanmar high-performance CHP systems with the ability to produce a total of 70kw of power for the facility and hot water to be used in the production of heat and domestic hot water. These systems incorporate a heat exchanger, with a glycol-based system for heat recovery. To increase the efficiency of the new system, we replaced the old, worn-out boilers with two high-efficiency Patterson Kelley Storm ST-2000, 2,000,000 BTU, gas-fired condensing boilers equipped with a BACnet interface.

These new boilers will significantly increase efficiency, while working in conjunction with the Yanmar CHPs to produce domestic hot water and heating at the most efficient rate. We also installed new circulating pumps, associated pump specialties, and the necessary gas piping to the new equipment. To control the system, we installed a new Johnson Controls BMS system to operate the heat exchanger, radiators, boilers, and the cogeneration system.

Yanmar Cogeneration Systems offer significant advantages. By simultaneously generating both electricity and heat, they achieve high energy efficiency, reducing energy costs and environmental impact. The YMCA can lower their reliance on the grid, improving energy security and reducing vulnerability to price fluctuations.

Learn more about cogeneration (CHP)

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Gas Heat Pumps (GHP) Middletown CT | MIDDLETOWN YMCA YANMAR

Controlled Air Inc. — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 17:45:41 +0000

The Middletown YMCA was looking to expand their office space and purchased a historic home located near the facility. Controlled Air Inc. was challenged to find the most efficient solution to both install and run, heating and cooling for the new offices, allow for occupant comfort, while also bringing the home up-to-code. Controlled Air Inc. ran load calculations and determined that a YANMAR VRF (GHP) gas power heat pump system would be the best way to meet their needs. Controlled Air Inc. installed a Yanmar 10-ton VRF GHP, including eight .6 ton wall mounted indoor units, three 1-ton wall mounted units, one 1-ton floor standing indoor unit, one 2-ton floor standing indoor unit, thirteen wire remote controllers and an intelligent touch controller with software. The thirteen controllers allowed each room to control their own temperature, allowing for the best in user comfort. This upgrade provided the Middlesex YMCA with potential savings of over $3000 annually in energy costs.

YANMAR

The YANMAR Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) natural gas heat pump (GHP) system provides a flexible way to efficiently heat and cool many different types of buildings. By using natural gas to power a YANMAR gas engine, YANMAR’s VRF system is able to reduce electrical costs by 90% and lower average operating costs by 30% over a standard electric system. By using world class Yanmar gas-engines to drive the system, these reversible air-source heat pumps can give low running costs, reduce CO₂ emissions and use very little electricity. GHP is a well-established technology and Yanmar has been one of the leaders in this field for the last 30 years. By offering Air-to-air (VRF) and Air-to-water GHP systems, Yanmar can provide efficient and cost effective solutions for a wide range of cooling and heating applications.

These systems are ideal in many applications where cooling and heating might be necessary at the same time in different areas of a building such as offices, schools, hospitals, labs and mixed use facilities. For more information:

Learn More about our Gas Heat Pump Solutions

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Northern Middlesex County YMCA Cogeneration Installation

Controlled Air Inc. — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:46:48 +0000

Controlled Air, Inc. furnished and installed a Tecogen CM-75 Cogeneration system with a hospital grade silencer and power exhaust ventilator at the Middlesex YMCA.

The projections were as follows:

2.05 year Return On Investment (ROI)
Yearly Savings of 624,150 kWh
Approximate Annual Energy savings of $146,147.35
Cogeneration would produce 3.76 Billion BTU’s of heat, and 600,000KWH of electricity per year

The project was completed in 2012 and we have been monitoring energy usage and production. The Cogeneration system has been better then projected! The system has reduced oil consumption by 20,000 gals per year, as well as saving over $127,000 in electricity costs. On average the Cogeneration system is producing 1,800 kWh of electricity per day. This is a huge reduction in cost and energy for the YMCA.

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Cogeneration, Branford CT | Soundview YMCA

Controlled Air Inc. — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:36:05 +0000

The New Soundview YMCA will be a great addition to the Branford community offering 2 pools, cardio, weights, teen center, and aerobics. They will have a high energy demand in order to heat 2 pools 24 hours per day, as well as hot water for showers, and running a dehumidifier. Controlled Air is installing a cogeneration system and a custom air handling unit with a dehumidifier that will save 360,000 kWh per year with a little over a 3 year ROI.

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YMCA Wilton

Controlled Air Inc. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Wilton YMCA wanted to convert their oil boiler to natural gas. Controlled Air, Inc. was able to replace the burner and pipe in natural gas. They choose a flexible Trac-pipe saving a few thousand dollars. We reused the existing controls and reconnected the existing electrical feeder.

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Heating & Air Conditioning Service

Controlled Air Inc. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Pools and health club facilities require special maintenance. The humidity in the air and the chlorine from the pool can require additional maintenance.

The indoor environment in the pool room is a delicate environment. If the temperature is not correct or the humidity is incorrect, it can lead to an uncomfortable environment, health problems, mold and air quality issues, as well as deterioration of the building structure.

Dampness and mold have been linked to a wide range of health issues, from headaches and skin irritation, to allergic reactions, asthma, and other serious respiratory problems.

Dehumidification: Most indoor pool spaces have a dehumidifier to maintain 50- to 60 percent relative humidity (RH) and cool or heat the air to a set point temperature. Without it, the space probably depends on outdoor air and exhaust.

Pool rooms and health clubs also require on-going, consistent maintenance, such as 4 inspections and filters changes per year.

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