Environmental boost for Melbourne's AAMI Park

Pressure on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment at Melbourne sporting and entertainment venue AAMI Park means that reducing CO₂ emissions (CO₂e) and running costs is an ongoing commitment of the venue’s management, Melbourne & Olympic Parks (M&OP). To help meet operational growth targets, M&OP consulted technical partner Johnson Controls to identify the best way to optimise the venue’s performance.

The Johnson Controls facility performance team partnered with M&OP’s infrastructure team to identify initiatives that could be implemented immediately under the venue’s existing service agreement.

A thorough review of AAMI Park’s multiple mechanical functions began by analysing HVAC requirements for each tenant and event space, which included evaluating the energy management systems.

Performance was tracked at 72 electrical meters, 102 water meters and three gas meters to pinpoint exactly where energy-reduction improvements could be made without having to replace the existing plant equipment.

A key focus area was the mechanical plant’s building management system and control strategies, which included isolating the HVAC equipment’s operational zones. This resulted in greater comfort levels for tenants and patrons while minimising energy wastage.

Johnson Controls created a new HVAC scheduling methodology to help reduce energy outputs and wastage and extend the plant equipment’s life cycle. The process encompassed both the air side (air-handling unit and associated plant) and the water side (which included both chiller and boiler plants) to ensure the most efficient overall outcome was achieved.

Substantial cost and CO₂e savings were achieved by assessing the stadium’s mechanical plant operation. Energy outputs were reduced by 47% and 815 tonnes of CO₂ were removed from the atmosphere by optimising the existing HVAC operations and control functionality — an impressive outcome that has helped the venue exceed its sustainability targets.

The entire process included an initial site audit to identify sustainability opportunities; chilled water and heating/hot water system rebalancing throughout the venue; York Chiller operational software upgrade; plunge pool configuration; VCC HVAC configuration; and tenant plant equipment consolidation works. These initiatives resulted in mechanical plant electrical savings of 696,565 kWh since 2015, and running cost reductions of $129,359.