Denver RTD is improving energy efficiency by refurbishing the existing boiler components at its East Metro maintenance facility in Aurora, Colorado. This $770,000 project, funded by the TIGGER Program, is part of a Denver project called Energy Enhancements Yielding Operational Returns and Efficiency (EEYORE).

Upgrading the boiler components to a new energy efficient design will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency at East Metro. The existing boilers at the 351,000 square foot maintenance facility consume more than 66,000 million Btu of natural gas per year at an average operating efficiency of 82%, with NOx emissions of 60 ppm.

The upgrade includes replacing the existing boiler system components and related pipes and valves with newer, energy-efficient versions. Additionally, RTD expects to save 19,341 million Btu per year with the new high-efficiency boilers. This represents a 29% reduction in natural gas consumption, and a 22% reduction in the annual energy consumption, at the East Metro facility. Based on current natural gas prices, RTD will save $135,000 per year over the 25-year lifetime of the boilers.