Le Lézard
Classified in: Environment
Subjects: Photo/Multimedia, Product/Service

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Tours Thermal Energy Corporation


U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Thursday visited Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO) to see first-hand the energy system that cools and heats buildings in the world's largest medical complex ? the Texas Medical Center. TECO was recently selected the #1 district energy system in the world for 2019 by the International District Energy Association.

"I appreciated the opportunity to tour Thermal Energy Corporation and see first-hand the innovative technology they use at their facility," says Secretary Perry. "I was interested to hear about how they withstood Hurricane Harvey's impact, underscoring the importance of resiliency within our energy systems."

TECO's technologies make the system reliable, energy efficient, environmentally responsible and economically advantageous. Its use of combined heat and power technology doubles TECO's annual operating efficiency and cuts fossil fuel consumption by more than 60% compared to conventional electric generation and heat-only systems. As a result, TECO cuts annual tons of NOx by more than 90% and reduces CO2 and total greenhouse gas emissions by 48%. The greenhouse gas reduction is estimated to be the same as taking nearly 8,000 passenger vehicles annually off the road.

"The fact that Secretary Perry took the time to visit TECO helps demonstrate the importance of the work we do here," says TECO President and CEO Steve Swinson. "There are nearly 1,000 district energy systems in the United States and hundreds more around the world that are examples of what is possible for our energy future. Our efficiency helps our energy resources go further, which contributes to energy security."

TECO Board Chairman Brad Howell, representative from the Texas Medical Center, also participated in the tour. "TECO has the simple but daunting task to be perfect 100% of the time, providing chilled water and steam every minute of every day to mission-critical facilities," says Howell. "Lives and invaluable research are at stake. It's a zero-fail mission. You can imagine the sort of resiliency needed not just in systems but in character to make TECO's system successful. TECO enables its customer institutions to do what they do best, which is to take care of people, educate people and make medical discoveries."

More on TECO. Owned and operated by TECO since 1978, the district energy system began operation under the ownership of Houston Natural Gas Company in 1969, and this year marks its 50th anniversary.

Today TECO's district cooling system is the largest in North America. Its combined-heat-and-power-based system pipes chilled water and steam to 22.7 million sq ft in 50 buildings in 16 different institutions on the Texas Medical Center campus. Customers use TECO's chilled water for space cooling, cold rooms and refrigeration and TECO's steam to meet space heating, dehumidification, humidification, sterilization, kitchen, sanitary and research requirements. Download TECO facts.


These press releases may also interest you

at 06:05
The 2023 U.S. soybean field trials conducted by Texas Crop Science (TCS) demonstrated an average yield increase of 21% in soybean lines incorporating the TCS yield trait. This breakthrough in performance would generate approximately $121 per acre in...

at 06:05
REX American Resources Corporation ("REX" or the "Company") , a leading ethanol production company, today announced financial and operational results for the Company's full year and fiscal fourth quarter 2023. REX American Resources' Q4 and full...

at 05:26
Alfa Laval's annual and sustainability report for 2023 has today been published and can be downloaded from the Group's website.  It is also attached to this press release. This is Alfa Laval   The ability to make the most of what we have is more...

at 05:00
Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, is pleased to announce a groundbreaking partnership with battery materials and technology company Talga Group Ltd, which will see the two companies working...

at 04:33
Under the theme of "Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities," the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2024 was held in Hainan, China on March 26th. M&G has been the forum's official stationery supplier since 2005. As...

at 04:00
Yukon Group, Europe's leading thermal imaging and night vision company, has launched the world's first upgradable thermal monocular for civilian use. The Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 is set to become an indispensable tool for hunters, explorers and rescuers...



News published on and distributed by: