Siemens won a $10 million bid through the Chicago Department of Water Management to support upgrades to the Springfield Avenue Pumping Station, which will result in approximately $7.5 million annually in energy and operating cost savings. The station will convert from traditional steam turbines and boilers, to drives connected to electric motors, as part of Chicago’s ‘Build a New Chicago’ $7 billion, three-year infrastructure improvement program.
 
Siemens will provide five ROBICON Perfect Harmony Drives for the project, in addition to electrical distribution equipment such as panelboards, switchboards, safety switches, switchgear and busway systems. Three buildings were demolished at the Springfield Avenue Pumping Station in April as electricity replaces steam power in the city’s water distribution system.  In a network of 12 pumping stations, the Springfield Station is one of four being converted to electricity.
 
“Siemens is proud to play a role in the ‘Building a New Chicago’ comprehensive infrastructure improvement program, which is one of the largest investments in infrastructure in the city’s history,” says Helmuth Ludwig, CEO of Siemens Industry, North America.  “With more than 3,000 Siemens employees and 30 locations within Illinois, we too have a vested interest in helping the Chicago metropolitan area address its infrastructure needs through smart technologies,” Ludwig added.
 
According to the Department of Water Management, the transformation at the Springfield Pumping Station will reduce carbon emissions by 17,380 tons each year, based on current water pumping rates. This is the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 2,888 automobiles, according to the USEPA.
 
The new LEED-certified electrical building, housing much of the Siemens equipment, will also include a green roof system for improved storm water management and solar collection panels.  The Springfield project represents a $64.6 million investment, and is expected to be completed in July 2015.
 
The Department of Water Management protects the public health in the most environmentally and fiscally responsible manner by delivering a sufficient supply of exceptional quality water and efficiently managing waste and storm water. The Department is responsible for delivering approximately one billion gallons of pure water to the residents of Chicago and 125 suburban communities everyday. It is also responsible for removing the wastewater and storm runoff from the streets of Chicago and delivering the effluent for treatment to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
 
Siemens has provided infrastructure, energy, industry and healthcare solutions to the Illinois International Port District, Chicago Public Schools, Soldier Field, the Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority, Commonwealth Edison and St. Alexius Medical Center, among many other Illinois-based companies and organizations. 
 
Siemens also supports a number of green/sustainability and learning initiatives through programs such as the Chicago Green Office Challenge, Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, Siemens Science Day, Siemens/Chicago Housing Authority/Windows of Opportunity Summer Bridge, Chicago Cares, Siemens STEM Academy and Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.