Hot, steamy summertime indoor temperatures and skyrocketing utility bills were not “fun” costs of doing business for the Charleston Fun Park, a popular, five-acre indoor/outdoor family entertainment center.
However, four entranceway air curtains, which now protect the Mount Pleasant SC-based amusement park’s 16,000-sq-ft indoor area from outdoor temperatures, have lowered annual utility costs and energy use by approximately $20,000 and 6.6-MMBtu, respectively. The improved indoor air comfort also helped increase sales 20-percent in the first year since installation.
The indoor facility, which houses the virtual reality and arcade area, along with the ticket staging, snack/eating section, and restrooms, is air conditioned with five 10-ton split-system air conditioners. However, the units couldn’t overcome heat gain from three sets of double doors that accommodated constant foot traffic during peak hours. General Manager Brian Lee estimates the 7-x-8-ft industrial aluminum frame glass doorways are typically opened an average of 60 times/hour each.
Consequently, the sweltering 85°F minimum indoor temperatures on summer days discouraged indoor activities. The indoor area also serves as a cool refuge for patrons participating in the go-kart track, paintball area, miniature golf, climbing wall and outdoor activities. “In 2016, regular customers thought our air conditioning was broken and now they think it’s fixed, but we never touched the air conditioning,” quipped Brian Lee, general manager, who now easily maintains the indoor facility at 70 to 72°F year-round.
Lee attributes most of the aforementioned sales increase from the 60-machine arcade and virtual reality area, where customers buy playing time up and above park entrance ticket prices. Indoor entertainment players are staying longer and buying more game time because of the air comfort, according to Lee. The park attracts nearly 300,000 people annually and Lee believes return business has increased too, because patrons felt more comfortable during their previous visit.
While the sales increase was surprising, the utility savings was expected, according to Tom Gondi, president of Southern Market Share, a Greenville, S.C. industrial product manufacturer’s representative. Gondi initially ran an energy audit for the park using the Berner Energy Saving Calculator, a free web-based program available by air curtain manufacturer, Berner International, New Castle, Pa. at www.berner.com/energy-savings-calculator/. The program uses data inputs, such as door dimensions, use times, cycles, local energy rates and National Weather Data (Bin Data) to provide the user with energy savings and payback estimates.
In addition to energy savings and indoor air comfort, the air curtains also prevent dirt and insect infiltration. Air curtains create an invisible air barrier that flying insects can’t penetrate, thus increasing sanitary conditions in the 35-seat snack area. The kitchen’s four-foot-wide shipping door also received an air curtain.
Charleston, S.C.-based material handling distributor Custom Equipment Co., supplied the air curtains. Charleston Fun Park’s in-house maintenance staff and licensed electrician ran 120v power and wall-mounted the six-foot-wide Commercial Low Profile 8-Series (CLC08) units above the double doorways in less than a day with no park down-time.
Each air curtain features a 24v control panel and two heavy-duty magnetic reed switches that automatically activate the air curtain when either door is opened. The magnetic reed switch guarantees the air curtain is activated without interaction by employees. The air curtain control package turns them off after a factory-set 60 second timer delay, however Lee said constant foot traffic through the doors keeps the air curtains running almost continuously. All four air curtains’ annual operating expense is $111.54.
Now with improved utility savings and air comfort, everything is “fun” at the Charleston Fun Park.
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About Berner: Berner International is a 62-year-old U.S. manufacturer and a leader in the air door/air curtain equipment manufacturing industry. Berner is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), The Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Air Movement & Control Association (AMCA), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). For more information on Berner and its products, please call (724)-658-3551 or visit www.berner.com