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Case Studies

Corporate Dining Intelli-Hood® Case Study

CONTEXT

The goal for the new R&D Center was to make a state-of-the art building that was also energy efficient. The current energy incentives made the decision even easier, knowing they would save money on the installation as well as through the life of the product. The goal for the kitchen build was simple; keep a clean aesthetic using the latest technology to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.

RESULTS

The results and savings exceeded all expectations. With the use of the energy incentives and the efficiency of the upgraded system, they made a 118% return on their investment before the end of the first year. Additionally, the new system was able to reduce fan speed over 60% on average, saving almost $45,000!

SITE INFORMATION

Total Motor Power: 35 HP

Daily Operating Hours: 19

Days Per Week: 7

Weeks Per Year: 52

Cost Per Kilowatt Hour: $.09

BELOW IS A SAMPLE GRAPH OF THE VARYING EXHAUST FAN SPEED FOR ONE DAY AT THE RESORT:

Could Intelli-Hood® be a fit for my project?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Barcelona-Sants Hotel Case Study

CONTEXT

AS A PART OF A KITCHEN RENOVATION PROJECT, INTELLI-HOOD® DEMAND CONTROL KITCHEN VENTILATION WAS INSTALLED IN MARCH OF 2017 TO SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS. THE HOTEL WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1992. THE FOLLOWING ARE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE SITE:

• TOTAL MOTOR POWER: 17.5 HORSEPOWER

• DAILY OPERATING HOURS: 20

• DAYS PER WEEK: 7

• WEEKS PER YEAR: 52

• COST PER KILOWATT HOUR: .11 €

RESULTS

The system is performing optimally and is projected to deliver return on investment in under a year.

 

Below is a sample graph of the varying exhaust fan speed for one day at the hotel:

Could Intelli-Hood® be a fit for my project?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort Case Study

CONTEXT

Pala Casino Spa & Resort has always been cognizant of their environmental footprint and the impact they make on the surrounding community. Continually looking for ways to improve, they recently conducted energy audits across the property to identify areas of improvement and develop an optimization plan. One of the top priorities was to address their kitchen ventilation system which consisted of 10 kitchens with hoods running at 100% a majority of the day. With Trane as their partner in this project, they decided to implement Melink Intelli-Hood® so their hoods would self-modulate as necessary according to the cooking conditions.

RESULTS

Pala Casino Spa & Resort was able to reduce their fan speed about 35%, resulting in a savings of $139,713 in the first year alone. Their return on investment also exceeded expectations, by returning their initial investment in under 2 years. With this improvement they were not only able reduce their immediate energy consumption, but they are able to use the Intelli-Hood® technology to continually monitor their usage, and their kitchens became much quieter and more comfortable as well!

 

BELOW IS A SAMPLE GRAPH OF THE VARYING EXHAUST FAN SPEED FOR ONE DAY AT THE RESORT:

Could Intelli-Hood® be a fit for my project?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Case Study: Deli Rebalance

Context

In spring 2015, Melink was hired by a facilities director at a popular sandwich deli chain for a pilot balance service at their Port Arthur, Texas, location. The scope of work was to audit the previous new construction balance work of their existing contractor. When Melink’s technicians reported several deficiencies (opening the eyes of the facilities team to the faulty installation work), the pilot program expanded to an additional three stores.

Results

The Melink technician inspected the rooftop units, exhaust fans, duct systems, thermostats, exhaust hoods, and other components of the HVAC systems. After all balance adjustments were made, a positive pressure that complied with the design requirements was read and the final results were discussed with the restaurant managers. Further, the company’s management team was provided with a detailed report, which included measurements, pictures of the HVAC components, and a punch list of deficiencies to be corrected to maintain the balanced, comfortable building.

The most common punch list items include:

  • Inoperable outdoor dampers
  • Dirty blower wheel
  • Dirty evaporator coil
  • Dirty outdoor filters
  • Dirty return grilles

Melink is now performing test and balance work for all of the chain’s locations.

Do You Have a Facility in Need of a Test & Balance? 

Please visit our HVAC Test and Balance page to request a quote and learn more about our services.

Hiram University Retrofit

“You guys have the optimal product for smoke sensing. The cooking sensing technology identifies heat and/or smoke more accurately than other manufacturers. Melink also provides a very thorough turnkey solution, which was very helpful.”

– Eric Betz, electrical engineering manager at Brewer-Garrett

CONTEXT

Like the majority of colleges and universities without kitchen demand control ventilation (DCV) in their dining halls, Hiram College was using inefficient hood fans to cool down their kitchens and to keep employees safe. Running at 100% capacity without any actual cooking occurring, the hood exhaust fans were wasting energy and pushing the meter higher and higher. As a consequence, Hiram experienced expensive utility bills. Below is the operation information for the kitchens:

  • Total motor power: 12. HP
  • Daily operating hours: 17
  • Days per week: 7
  • Weeks per year: 52
  • Cost per kilowatt hour: $.09
  • Climate zone: 5

RESULTS

Hiram pursued Brewer-Garrett (BG), a performance contractor for energy efficiency, to consult them in energy efficiency upgrades. BG evaluated their kitchens and cafeterias to identify four areas with high energy consumption. BG recommended four Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) for these spaces, all of which fell into their 15-year ROI program. Having seen successful ROI performance with Intelli-Hood® kitchen hood controls in previous projects, BG included the technology as 1 of 4 ECMs for Hiram.

Hiram College Savings Results with Intelli-Hood

The following is a typical one-day variable fan speed graph using Intelli-Hood®:

Typical fan speed graph using Intelli-Hood kitchen hood controls

Here is a before (navy) and after (green) reductions in kilowatt hours, heat load and exhaust volume:

hiram college demand control kitchen venilation before and after reductions

The Brewer-Garrett team commented on their impression of Intelli-Hood® and working with Melink:

“You guys have the optimal product for smoke sensing. The cooking sensing technology identifies heat and/or smoke more accurately than other manufacturers. Melink also provides a very thorough turnkey solution, which was very helpful.”

– Eric Betz, Brewer-Garrett, electrical engineering manager

“We appreciate the fast turnaround and positive purchase experience. Also, the Melink installers were courteous and knowledgeable. All Melink personnel were readily accessible and eager to help when called. As far as the system itself, it is well thought-out and high quality. The display is easy to read and use.  Also, I like the ability for Melink to remotely monitor and fine tune with their Remote Access service.”

– Jon Erdmann, Brewer-Garrett, senior project manager

COULD INTELLI-HOOD® BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Download the full case study or contact us today to learn more about Intelli-Hood® and the benefit of kitchen hood controls.

Cincinnati Zoo Restaurant Retrofit

I appreciate that Intelli-Hood® is automated, it’s one less thing to worry about in managing a restaurant. We don’t have to remind people to turn it on and off. We get savings by letting the system run on it’s on.

– Tony James, facilities management at the Cincinnati Zoo

CONTEXT

Base Camp Cafe at the Cincinnati Zoo was due for a remodel project in 2013 and took the opportunity to retrofit the restaurant with environmentally sustainable features. They set the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification, but meeting the requirements posed much challenge. Below are the restaurant kitchen conditions:

  • Total motor power: 10 HP
  • Daily operating hours: 14
  • Days per week: 7
  • Weeks per year: 52
  • Cost per kilowatt hour: $.10
  • Climate zone: 5
  • Customers per year: 1.4 million

RESULTS

The Cincinnati Zoo Sustainability Team chose to install Intelli-Hood® Controls to gain credits toward their pursuit of a LEED Gold-certified Cafe. The Zoo previously worked with Melink for a solar canopy project. Since 2013, Base Camp Cafe has been ranked the greenest restaurant in the nation, as measured by The Green Restaurant Association. This association granted them 473 points for the different green elements of their restaurant, with their energy reduction accounting for 220 points, or 47% of their score.

 

Energy savings graphic

The following is a five-day fan speed graph at the Base Camp Cafe:

Green graphic

Here is a before (navy) and after (green) reductions in kilowatt hours, heat load and exhaust volume:

energy data before and after Intelli-Hood

The facilities team at the Cincinnati Zoo commented on their impression of Intelli-Hood® and working with Melink:

“I appreciate that Intelli-Hood® is automated, it’s one less thing to worry about in managing a restaurant. We don’t have to remind people to turn it on and off. We get savings by letting the system run on it’s on.”
– Tony James, Cincinnati Zoo, Facilities Management

“Melink was detail-oriented and, to be honest, a lot more on-the-ball than we were. They were responsive to the fine-tuning issues that came about, such as sensors getting dirty with grease.”
– Greg Speidel, HGC Construction, Project Manager

“Restaurants are huge energy hogs, it’s also where you can get your money back.”
– Mark Fisher, Cincinnati Zoo, Director of Sustainability

COULD INTELLI-HOOD® BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Military Base Retrofit Case Study

CONTEXT

In effort to evaluate the potential of Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) technology, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) designed, executed, and evaluated a field study. Melink Intelli-Hood® was installed in four dining facilities at Department of Defense (DoD) locations in different climate zones across the United States. These kitchens typically serve a high volume of many meals in short time periods and are excellent candidates for DCKV kitchen controls equipment to reduce energy usage of kitchen hood fans. Baseline measurements were taken before the installations and the energy savings were determined after several months of data. There were two performance objectives: demonstrate a savings of at least 30% in energy usage and maintain or improve occupant comfort.

RESULTS

Both performance objectives were achieved with all four dining facilities saving more than 30% in energy usage as well as maintaining comfort and noise level. No complaints were reported. Further, the following parameters were found to maximize ROI:

  • Relatively large exhaust hood systems (min. of 5,000 CFM)
  • Climate requiring significant heating and/or cooling of makeup air
  • Relatively long operating hours
  • Med-High utility costs

MILITARY DINING CASE STUDY RESULTS WITH INTELLIHOOD

The following is an excerpt from the ERDC report in section 8.3:

Procurement Considerations:
Some vendors offer systems that use only temperature sensors, i.e., they do not use optical or opacity sensors. This is not recommended since the optical sensors provide an indication of cooking when the exhaust air has not yet reached the set point temperature.  Thus, the hoods would continue to operate at a low exhaust rate and cooking effluent would spill from the exhaust hood. Temperature-only systems are usually set to higher exhaust rates to mitigate this issue.

The following is a summary table of the energy savings results:

Before/After Energy Savings Summary of Intelli-Hood

The following are before and after Intelli-Hood® exhaust fan speed graphs:

Line graph

Line graph

Line graph

Line graph

COULD INTELLI-HOOD BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Frankfurt Hotel Retrofit Case Study

CONTEXT

In October 2012 the Radison Blu Hotel in Frankfurt installed their first Melink Intelli-Hood® system. Following the success of this project another 7 installations followed throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Poland. Additional opportunities in the portfolio are being reviewed as a result of the energy savings being realized at the existing properties. There is an established and dedicated network throughout Europe to ensure project support from concept to completion for commercial kitchen operations.

RESULTS

intellihood radison blu savings graphic

COULD INTELLI-HOOD® BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

South Korea Hospital Retrofit Case Study

CONTEXT

Faced with the industry challenge to reduce operating costs, Daegu Catholic Hospital in Daegu, South Korea sought after promising opportunities to reduce energy usage.

  • Total motor power: 170 HP
  • Daily operating hours: 17
  • Days per week: 7
  • Weeks per year: 52
  • Cost per kilowatt hour: $0.088

RESULTS

Energy savings graphic

Below are the before (navy) and after (green) reductions in kilowatt hours, heat load and exhaust volume:

Graph

COULD INTELLI-HOOD® BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.

Chicago Hospital Retrofit Case Study

“The Intelli-Hood® system at Shriner’s is exceeding expected savings, it has the staff very impressed…which makes us look like heroes! We’re pleased with the data and will get it installed in future kitchens.”

– Mike Sullivan, Hill Mechanical Operations Inc, Director of Facilities for Shriner’s Hospital

CONTEXT

Faced with the industry challenge to reduce operating costs, Shriner’s Hospital sought after promising opportunities to reduce energy usage. Other hospitals in the area had selected Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) for their cafeteria kitchen hoods based on promising estimated savings and available utility incentives. Shriner’s decided to also take advantage of the opportunity.

  • Total motor power: 8 HP
  • Daily operating hours: 14
  • Days per week: 7
  • Weeks per year: 52
  • Cost per kilowatt hour: $0.10
  • Climate zone: 5

RESULTS

Shriner’s Hospital made use of $4,000 in total incentives from both People’s Gas and Franklin Energy to get DCKV installed. Intelli-Hood® reduced their hood exhaust fan speed by 45 percent and has been proven to perform above expectations.

Energy savings graphic

Below is a sample graph of the varying exhaust fan speed for one day at the hospital:

Green graphic

COULD INTELLI-HOOD® BE A FIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood® could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood® page to get started.