Sterilite upgrades gift building

TOWNSEND -- Almost three years after both the Richard and Irene Collette Library and the Roy and Nancy Shepherd Senior Center opened, Sterilite is continuing to upgrade the building.

Plastics manufacturer Sterilite, whicht was established in Townsend in the late 60s, began the project in honor of the town's 275th anniversary. Since the construction, the company has kept an eye on its performance and now, in response to what they consider sub-par energy efficiency, the company has decided to install additional equipment to enhance heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building.

"They didn't have to do this, it's already better than others in town, but they want to increase effiency and they are putting in the work," Town Administrator Andy Sheehan said.

The upgrades are expected to be finished this month and facilities manager Mark Mercurio said the weather might work out to check both A/C units before the heating is turned off for the summer.

"The temperature unit's on a semi-annual system, they turn over from cooling to heating as a whole so that they are not fighting each other and it can be as efficient as possible," he said.

Mercurio said that the systems react well to outside temperature, and he has heard very few complaints about the temperature of the building.

The upgrades consist mainly of adding more sensors and valves. More sensor points throughout the building mean more information it's central computer can

Valves are installed in the central HVAC units above the facility's kitchen and sensors have been placed on pipes leading from those units and around ceiling vents at the library and senior center. Each individual sensor is designated on a web-hosted program called Niagara, which services the entire building. Lights and temperature can be controlled and scheduled from it.

"By isolating even more areas in the system it can monitor them more effectively and adjust accordingly, it makes for a much more energy efficient operation," Mercurio said.

Sheehan said by having the thermostats talking to one another better, the already efficient building will get even better.

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Sterilite upgrades gift building