Preparing building intelligence…
GCOP dynamically adjusts the Leaving Chilled Water Temperature setpoint of compatible chillers using real-time operating data, adaptive control logic, BACnet/IP integration, and cloud-based performance visibility.
Many chilled-water systems maintain a fixed Leaving Chilled Water Temperature (LCHWT) setpoint even when building load and environmental conditions could allow a higher supply-water temperature. A lower setpoint generally requires the compressor to create a larger pressure and temperature difference across the refrigeration cycle.
During part-load or favorable ambient conditions, maintaining an unnecessarily low setpoint can increase compressor work. GCOP evaluates current conditions and adjusts the setpoint within approved limits to reduce avoidable lift. This does not imply that every fixed-setpoint chiller is operating incorrectly.
Chiller lift reflects the difference between evaporator-side and condenser-side operating conditions. In practical terms, it indicates how much work the compressor must perform to move refrigerant from lower pressure to higher pressure.
When current conditions allow GCOP to increase the Leaving Chilled Water Temperature setpoint, evaporator pressure may rise and the required compressor pressure increase may decline.
Raising the Leaving Chilled Water Temperature setpoint when conditions allow may reduce the pressure difference the compressor must overcome.
GCOP responds to changing load conditions instead of maintaining one fixed setpoint under every condition.
Operating values are continuously evaluated to calculate an appropriate setpoint within commissioned limits.
Alternating optimized and baseline-style periods supports transparent performance comparison.
GCOP can communicate with compatible chiller controllers through BACnet/IP.
Supported configurations can collect operating values, setpoints, capacity, trends, and performance information.
Qualifying existing chiller systems may be improved without immediate full chiller replacement.
The solution can be adapted to different chilled-water-plant configurations following engineering review.
Communicate with a compatible chiller control panel through BACnet/IP.
Collect relevant chiller, load, environmental, zone, and optional metering data.
Evaluate how the chiller responds under different cooling loads and environmental conditions.
More favorable outdoor conditions may allow a higher LCHWT setpoint within approved limits.
Lower load, evaluated through available chilled-water conditions and plant data, may allow a higher setpoint.
Reported capacity is another indication of demand and may influence the magnitude of the adjustment.
Selected indoor values can constrain setpoint increases and help protect approved comfort requirements.
Final input selection and control weighting depend on available data, chiller compatibility, building requirements, and commissioning.
The legacy GCOP methodology evaluates outdoor temperature, cooling load, chiller capacity, and selected space temperatures. Fuzzy-logic techniques combine degrees of these conditions to identify an appropriate setpoint.
Unlike a rigid on-or-off rule, fuzzy logic can balance several inputs at the same time. GCOP is described here as adaptive, data-informed setpoint optimization,not autonomous general intelligence.
Multiple inputs → fuzzy-logic-based control → commissioned setpoint → verified response
Traditional chilled-water systems frequently use a fixed supply-water temperature, with 44°F identified as a common reference in the legacy GCOP methodology. Under reduced load, a building may not require water at that same low temperature.
GCOP can increase the LCHWT setpoint when conditions permit. This may increase evaporator pressure, reduce the pressure rise required from the compressor, and lower compressor energy use while maintaining approved comfort and process requirements.
The allowable range must be established during engineering review and commissioning. Hospitals, laboratories, industrial processes, humidity-sensitive spaces, and other critical applications may require stricter limits.
On even-numbered calendar days, GCOP dynamically adjusts the LCHWT setpoint according to current conditions and commissioned limits.
On odd-numbered calendar days, optimization is disabled and the chiller uses the approved baseline strategy.
The legacy workflow identifies 44°F as its comparison setpoint. The actual project baseline must be confirmed by DLV Energy and the client’s engineering team. Daily data is collected so capacity and energy behavior can be reviewed for engineering and executive audiences.
Compares average chiller-capacity behavior during optimized and baseline-style periods. The legacy Capacity Reduction Factor considers average-capacity difference, LCHWT increase, nominal tonnage, and manufacturer-reported efficiency.
This produces an estimate and depends on accurate chiller data.Optional power meters can measure electrical demand and consumption, providing a stronger basis for evaluating kW and kWh changes.
The final measurement methodology should be agreed before evaluation begins.The legacy method recommends operating Evaluation Mode at least three times per year to account for cooling-season peaks, shoulder-season conditions, occupancy changes, plant loading, and varying condenser-water or outdoor temperatures.
The appropriate duration and frequency depend on facility operation and the selected measurement-and-verification plan.
Receives approved data, calculates the optimized setpoint, and sends the commissioned reset command.
Communicates with compatible chiller controllers and building systems.
Provide required temperatures and operating information when those values are not already available.
Measures electrical demand and consumption for stronger measurement and verification.
May coordinate data from multiple chillers or plant devices.
May display operating values, trends, setpoints, capacity, alarms, and performance information.
Incorporates approved GCOP values and commands into the building-automation architecture.
Not every project requires every component. Final architecture is established through engineering review.
DLV Energy can configure customized chilled-water-plant optimization strategies according to equipment, staging logic, condenser-water conditions, pumping configuration, sequencing, and building load.
Engineering considerations may include multiple chillers, lead-lag sequencing, staging, pumps, variable flow, cooling towers, condenser-water temperature, differential pressure, thermal storage, BMS logic, and critical requirements. These are integration opportunities,not claims that GCOP controls every listed function.
Potential integrations include compatible chiller panels, building-management systems, supervisory controllers, BACnet power meters, local interfaces, cloud gateways, and multi-chiller plants.
Compatibility depends on available BACnet objects, writable setpoints, manufacturer permissions, network security, and client approval.
Network access, writable points, user permissions, remote connectivity, data retention, and cloud services must be approved by the client’s IT and controls teams.
Available when supported by the approved project configuration and data architecture.
Eligibility depends on chiller type, operating hours, load, controls, BACnet compatibility, plant architecture, equipment condition, and approved setpoint range.
Explore industry applicationsSelect the conditions you believe apply. This screen does not confirm eligibility or compatibility.
A detailed controls review and site assessment are required before final system selection, savings projections, pricing, or implementation.
Start the Six-Step Chiller AssessmentReview plant configuration, inventory, sequences, controls, utility data, schedules, and critical requirements.
Confirm BACnet objects, writable points, network architecture, manufacturer restrictions, and integration.
Collect operating, capacity, load, setpoint, and available energy data.
Install and configure approved controller, sensors, gateway, metering, and network components.
Validate inputs, setpoint limits, fallback behavior, comfort constraints, alarms, and communication.
Evaluate trends, Evaluation Mode results, energy performance, and optimization opportunities.
Adjust the four values below. Your estimate updates instantly.
We use average operating parameters from prior GCOP installations. Your measured savings may be higher after a site assessment.
CO₂e uses a U.S. grid-average planning factor. For a location-specific comparison, use the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator (opens in a new tab).
Planning estimate only. Actual savings depend on plant configuration, operating conditions, and local utility rates.
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Learn moreExplore facility environments served by DLV Energy.
Learn moreReview approved project categories and evaluation approaches.
Learn moreConnect operating efficiency with sustainability priorities.
Learn moreExplore practical HVAC optimization guidance.
Learn moreBuild a preliminary opportunity scenario.
Learn moreBegin a structured technical review.
Learn moreReview company, controls, measurement, and implementation questions.
Learn moreDiscuss a controlled GCOP evaluation for a qualifying chiller plant.
Learn moreConnect with the team about controls, assessment, and next steps.
Learn moreGCOP is an intelligent retrofit and supervisory optimization solution for qualifying chilled-water systems.
GCOP stands for Green Chiller Optimization Package.
No. It communicates with compatible controls to optimize approved operating setpoints; it does not replace the chiller.
It can raise the Leaving Chilled Water Temperature setpoint when conditions permit, reducing avoidable compressor lift and work.
It is the temperature of chilled water leaving the chiller and entering the building distribution system.
It adjusts the leaving-water setpoint as load and operating conditions change rather than holding one value continuously.
Lift describes the compressor burden associated with moving refrigerant from lower evaporator pressure to higher condenser pressure.
A lower required pressure rise may reduce compressor work, subject to the chiller and current operating conditions.
Inputs may include outdoor temperature, chilled-water temperatures, current setpoint, capacity, cooling load, zone temperatures, and optional meter or plant data.
It is a control method that can balance degrees of several operating conditions rather than relying only on rigid on-or-off rules.
Yes, when the chiller controller, points, permissions, and approved network architecture support it.
Potentially. Available objects, writable points, manufacturer permissions, cybersecurity, and client approval must be reviewed.
No. Compatibility must be established through equipment and controls review.
Qualifying applications may have potential for approximately 8% to 25% energy reduction, but actual results vary.
No. It is a qualified potential range, not a guarantee, proposal, or site-specific projection.
It alternates optimized and baseline-style calendar days while collecting data for comparison.
The legacy workflow activates optimization on even-numbered days and uses an approved baseline strategy on odd-numbered days to support comparison.
No. The legacy method identifies 44°F, but each project's approved baseline must be confirmed by DLV Energy and the client engineering team.
The appropriate duration depends on facility operation, representativeness, weather, load, and the agreed measurement plan.
Different weather, occupancy, and plant-loading conditions can materially change chiller performance.
Yes. Optional meters can provide a stronger basis for evaluating kW and kWh changes.
Multi-chiller strategies may be engineered after review of staging, sequencing, plant data, and control authority.
Those are potential plant-level integration considerations, not universal GCOP functions. Project scope must be verified.
Not for every local function. Local, gateway, BMS, and cloud architecture is project-specific.
Fallback behavior must be defined and tested during engineering and commissioning for the specific controller and plant.
Selected zone or process values and commissioned setpoint limits can constrain optimization, subject to approved design.
Potentially, but critical, humidity-sensitive, and process applications require stricter engineering limits and approvals.
Chiller inventory, controls, BACnet objects, sequences, schedules, load, utility data, setpoint history, metering, and critical requirements are useful.
Commissioning validates inputs, network communication, setpoint limits, fallback behavior, comfort constraints, alarms, and commands.
Supported configurations can summarize trends, Evaluation Mode comparisons, capacity behavior, and estimated or directly measured energy changes.
Let DLV Energy evaluate your chilled-water temperatures, plant load, controls, BACnet architecture, and energy data to identify qualified optimization opportunities.
Determine an appropriate LCHWT setpoint using commissioned inputs and adaptive optimization logic.
Send the calculated setpoint to the compatible chiller controller within commissioned limits.
Collect operating and energy information for trending, comparison, reporting, and continued optimization.
