PROJECT
building technology
The Shedd Aquarium designed a strategic energy roadmap to achieve a 50% reduction in energy consumption by 2020.
There’s Nothing Fishy About Saving Energy Schneider’s Building Analytics system creates and maintains environments where people connect to animals.
I
n 2013, decision-makers at the John G. Shedd Aquar-
to cover 422,000 sq. ft. In 1991, the aquarium expanded
applying Schneider’s code-engineering expertise to the
ium in Chicago committed to an ambitious goal of
to recreate a Pacific Northwest coastal environment.
aquarium’s environmental-control system that resulted in
cutting the aquarium’s energy consumption in half by
Known today as the Abbott Oceanarium, this 170,000-sq.-
cost savings through reduced energy and water use.
2020. This commitment to sustainability extends into
ft. exhibit holds 3-million gal. of water and features every-
Schneider Electric had also addressed issues related to
every part of Shedd Aquarium, from water-conserving
thing from beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins
security, renewable energy, lighting control, building au-
exhibits and energy-efficient lighting to green gardens
to sea otters and sea lions. It is also the largest indoor ma-
tomation, and energy management.
and the food its inhabitants eat. Shedd named Schneider
rine-mammal facility in the world.
Electric, Andover, MA, as an energy-management partner to help implement that goal.
Monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) is all about
A 2003 expansion houses the 27,000-sq.-ft. Wild Reef,
fine-tuning systems and equipment to conserve energy,
which holds more than 570,000 gal. of water. Built in an
according to Schneider. The company’s Building Analyt-
The Shedd Aquarium first opened its doors to visitors
underground wing of the aquarium, this exhibit recreates
ics solution helps achieve that goal by identifying and
in 1930. Today, almost 2-million guests visit this national
a Philippine coral reef to allow visitors to enjoy the most
prioritizing top recommendations for energy conserva-
historic landmark annually. The aquatic environments in
diverse underwater ecosystem in the world.
tion, as well as for avoidable energy costs.
the original aquarium contain more than 1.5-million gal.
A facility of this size has multiple challenges with re-
Local utilities ComEd and Nicor Gas partially funded
of water, including a 90,000-gal. exhibit created in 1971 to
gard to energy use in maintaining diverse environments
the aquarium’s MBCx program. (The Schneider Electric
reproduce a Caribbean coral reef. Over the years, the
for visitors, staff, and more than 32,500 aquatic animals.
Building Analytics solution relies on MBCx data to pro-
aquarium has undergone expansions to accommodate
Shedd Aquarium and Schneider Electric had previous-
vide insight and justification for energy savings and im-
other large exhibits, more than doubling its original size
ly collaborated on other sustainability projects, including
provements that get to the root cause of energy, comfort,
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COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE
MARCH 2017
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com
