As part of an effort to update technology and sustainability in air-conditioning units, the university is replacing parts of three heating and cooling systems, a $545,350 project that should reduce energy consumption by about 55 percent in the three buildings affected.
Chillers, a refrigeration system that provides coolant for heating and air-conditioning units, will be replaced in the Lab for Physical Sciences, the Animal Science Wing and the Physics Super Conductivity chiller.
Aging air-conditioning units hurt the environment and the university’s checkbook by producing more coolant than needed. The newer technology will reduce unused resources and the university’s energy bill.
Associate Director of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems John Vucci said the reduction in energy costs ultimately impacts tuition by affecting the overall operating cost for the university.
Chillers are the biggest energy consumer on the campus, Vucci said. According to a utility company, Alliant Energy, chillers consume about 20 percent of all electricity generated in North America. The university has hundreds of chillers across the campus, contributing to the $43 million energy bill the university will face this fiscal year, which officials have already said they will have to exceed by at least 10 percent due to rising energy costs.
Over the past 20 years, innovations in cooling and heating systems have helped them become more efficient, yet the university still has antiquated chillers that cost the university more money – and can’t be updated because of a lack of funds, said Director of Operations and Maintenance Jack Baker.
“The reality of it is, you’re not going to be changing things out in 20 or 25 years,” Baker said. “We would love to change out systems and renew them. Unfortunately, we don’t do that; it’s part of the deferred maintenance program.”
One of the reasons the university’s energy consumption is so high is because of the specific requirements for research laboratories. Research labs require sophisticated technology because they must operate all day, every day and on very strict measures, which creates a “challenge” for Facilities Management as they operate 50-year-old equipment, Baker said. Vucci said 30 percent of the 30,000 tons of air-conditioning used on the campus is used 24 hours a day by research facilities.
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