The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Atlanta incorporates two FläktGroup SEMCO Pinnacle® Energy Recovery Units to improve indoor air quality, comfort, and overall building efficiency. The system provides year‑round energy savings by pre‑conditioning outside air and reducing moisture loads on guestroom HVAC equipment. This allows the hotel to maintain low humidity and comfortable conditions throughout the cooling and heating seasons.
Key Facts
- Hotel completed in 2008
- Two Pinnacle® Energy Recovery Units installed
- Units use guestroom toilet exhaust and general exhaust to pre‑condition outside air
- Supply air pressurizes corridors and common areas with semi‑neutral, dehumidified air
- Humidity kept at 50% or lower during cooling season
- One unit includes two refrigeration circuits (one variable speed, one constant speed)
- Supply air cooled to approximately 55°F before dehumidification wheel stage
- Final supply air dew point approximately 48°F
- Winter operation reduces heating load by up to 90%
- Pinnacle® system saves upwards of 60% of tonnage related to building load during cooling season
- Heating savings: 418,000 BTU/h (83.5%) compared to conventional system; 65,033 BTU/h (44%) compared to single‑wheel system
Challenge
Improve comfort, indoor air quality, and humidity control while efficiently conditioning a large volume of outside air.
Solution
Two customized FläktGroup SEMCO Pinnacle® units were installed on the hotel rooftop. The systems utilize total energy and passive dehumidification wheels, combined with cooling/condensing coils and dual refrigeration circuits, to pre‑condition outside air. The units pressurize corridors with dry, semi‑neutral air, reducing latent loads on in‑room HVAC equipment and lowering humidity.
Results
- Improved comfort through lower humidity levels (50% or lower)
- Reduction of mold‑related risks due to drier indoor environments
- Significant cooling and heating energy savings
- Reduced in‑room unit operation due to neutral corridor air
- Achieved low cross‑contamination rates in heat wheel operation
“We looked at other types of energy recovery equipment but none of them could compete with this particular unit in terms of capacity and efficiency.”
Bill Ehle
Mechanical Engineer
Products Used
Plan your next Hospitality project with healthier, more efficient air.
We help engineers and owners design low-energy, code-compliant systems — backed by real-world results like this case.