Arboleda Boosts Efficiency and Streamlines Tenant Billing with the Belimo Energy Valve

Arboleda, a multi-use development located in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, represents a forward-thinking approach to sustainable and efficient building management. Developed by CREO, this property includes retail shops, a signature hotel, restaurants, apartments, and office buildings. Central to the success of Arboleda is the integration of the Belimo Energy Valve, which has been instrumental in helping the complex achieve both energy efficiency and accurate tenant billing—two critical goals for the long-term management of the property.

At the core of Arboleda is the district cooling system, which provides chilled water to tenants across the property. This system, with a substantial capacity of 6,500 tons, plays a critical role in maintaining comfort throughout the buildings. It employs 1,500 Belimo Energy Valves to manage chilled water and an additional 500 for heating within the apartment units. The energy-efficient management of these systems is a top priority for Arboleda, and the Energy Valve has proven to be the ideal solution.

Alan Quiroga Gamboa, PhD, of controls contractor DOT DCD discussed the integration of the Belimo Energy Valve into their energy efficiency strategy. “Our sequences with the Energy Valve are configured by GPM, not by flow pressure, and this automation process saves between 40 and 65% of pump energy per building,” he explained. Traditionally, buildings require multiple pumps to maintain adequate water pressure for cooling. Alan added, “Now, with this sequence, we started using just one pump achieving the same comfort for the whole building.” Each pump is typically a high-consumption unit of around 60 horsepower, making this reduction in pump usage a key driver of energy savings.

But the operational savings extend beyond reduced pump energy. One of the critical features of the Belimo Energy Valve is its ability to maintain and dynamically manage the Delta T—the difference between supply and return water temperatures—which is key to optimizing the efficiency of the cooling system. At Arboleda, the Delta T values achieved by the Energy Valve range between 10°F and 16°F, ensuring that the system operates at peak efficiency. By optimizing Delta T, the valves reduce energy waste and ensure that the chilled water system runs as designed, minimizing unnecessary strain on the system and lowering energy costs.

“We now have 60% more occupants than when we started, but we are paying less in power now,” Alan shared, emphasizing the impact of the Energy Valve’s integration. By maintaining optimal Delta T values and improving the overall system performance, the Energy Valve has also contributed to Arboleda’s sustainability initiatives. Most of the buildings in the complex have achieved LEED Gold certification, a testament to the high efficiency of the systems in place.

While most buildings at Arboleda were equipped with Belimo Energy Valves from the start, competitor valves used in some areas were later swapped out because they failed to deliver the correct reporting data needed for proper tenant billing. In contrast, the Energy Valve provided accurate and comprehensive reporting along with improved control over chilled water flow and energy consumption. This transition has greatly enhanced both system performance and tenant satisfaction.

“The consumption readings weren’t accurate,” which led to widespread tenant complaints, Alan recounted. “We decided to take off all the old valves and replace them with Energy Valves. Now it's clear that everyone is paying for what they're actually using.” This shift not only improved billing accuracy but also fostered greater trust among tenants.

DOT DCD’s proprietary app has been instrumental in delivering the real-time feedback provided by the Energy Valve through an intuitive dashboard where building owners and tenants can easily access analytics and verify their billing. The app utilizes the EV’s ability to measure energy usage down to the gallon, allowing Arboleda to bill tenants accurately based on their actual consumption. This transparency has not only minimized billing disputes but also empowered tenants to monitor and manage their own consumption more effectively, resulting in far fewer complaints.

Piotr Grodzicki, property manager for Arboleda’s residential and commercial divisions at CREO, highlighted the importance of clear reporting. “Our customers and tenants really appreciate Energy Valve’s reporting capabilities and the visibility it offers. End users have access to all the analytics they need to review their chilled water consumption and ensure that they are being billed correctly,” he said.                              

As the Arboleda project progresses, the success of the Energy Valve installation continues to create opportunities for expansion. The complex is currently operating seven of the twelve buildings outlined in its master plan, with 500 additional Energy Valves set to be installed as the remaining buildings come online. This ensures that as Arboleda grows, the Energy Valve will continue to provide the transparency and efficiency needed to manage the cooling system effectively, accurately bill tenants, and keep the system running at peak performance.

The Belimo Energy Valve has been a cornerstone of the Arboleda’s success in achieving energy efficiency and transparency in tenant billing. By providing accurate, real-time data and maintaining optimal Delta T values, the Energy Valve has significantly improved the performance of the district cooling system. Where competitor valves failed to provide the necessary accuracy and control, the Belimo Energy Valve has excelled, reducing energy consumption, improving tenant satisfaction, and helping the complex meet its sustainability goals.