By the end of 2013 the Ministry of Finances of Curaçao will move a part of their offices to a new building in Pietermaai. The building is a renovated historical building. EcoVision evaluated two possible Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems that could be used in the new building:
A conventional air cooled chiller and a state of the art, sea water cooled system with a very high COP (COP 5.9). Although the investment of the hihly efficient system was significantly higher, lower operational cost lead to a higher NPV compared to the base-case.
The end conclusion was that the more efficient system was economically preferable. A sensitivity analyses proved that the payback time would be approximately 4-8 years (under all circumstances less than 8 years). EcoVision also assessed the risks for marine life related to the additional heat load on this part of the coast.