Chiller Plant

First created on campus in 1997(1), the Chiller Plant at Florida Gulf Coast University is just one way the school is striving towards sustainability. The plant is located at the southeastern portion of campus, adjacent to the FGCU Art complex(2) and Jim Hehl, director of the Physical Plant, says it was created for its efficiency and lower costs to operate.

A Chiller Plant, in essence, uses thermal ice storage to cool the building during peak hours (12pm-9pm). While during the other hours it creates and stores thermal ice to be used later. During the off-peak hours a water/glycol solution flows through the chiller & heat exchanger to produce ice. During the peak hours the ice is melted, and the glycol is pumped through a heat exchanger. Chilled water on the opposite side of the heat exchanger is pumped into underground pipes that cool the campus.3 Although there is no exact founder, the Chiller Plant was part of the initial design and construction of the FGCU campus, according to Jim Hehl.

The Chiller Plant here at FGCU is important because it allows us to use its energy effectively and it is the main source of cooling for the buildings. Thanks to its energy efficiency, it has helped to cut down energy costs for the university.(4)

So, in terms of sustainability, the chiller plant has cut FGCU’s cooling cost by more than half and in the first three years it saved nearly $700,000 in energy costs.(5) The FGCU Chiller Plant drastically saves money and resources6 and aside from the cut of the operating costs, emissions are reduced according to Susana Hanson, a senior product-support engineer.(7)

Compared to other schools, The University of Florida and Florida State University also have chiller plants. However, the chiller plant at FSU is not quite as large as ours and while UF does indeed have a large chiller plant, FGCU overall has more thermal storage tanks.8

Jim Hehl tells us that the Chiller Plant is mainly a workplace for the staff at FGCU but if visits are needed, they can be planned in advanced. If you would like to contact him for more information or to schedule a visit you can email him at: jhehl@fgcu.edu or call him at: (239) 590-1313.

1

https://www.fgcu.edu/about/#History. http://www.williscarrier.com/m/1923-1929.php

2

Environment & Sustainability, www.fgcu.edu/thefgcueffect/environmentandsustainability.aspx. Accessed 20 October, 2018.

3

“Florida Gulf Coast University Cools Down with Energy Storage for Annual Energy Cost Savings of up to $300,000.” Florida Gulf Coast University Cools Down with Energy Storage for Annual Energy Cost Savings of up to $300,000 | Business Wire, 9 June 2010, www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609006089/en/Florida-Gulf-Coast-University-Cools-Energy-Storage. Accessed 01 November, 2018

4

Environment & Sustainability,www.fgcu.edu/thefgcueffect/environmentandsustainability.aspx. Accessed 23 October, 2018.

5

“Florida Gulf Coast University Cools Down with Energy Storage for Annual Energy Cost Savings of up to $300,000.” Florida Gulf Coast University Cools Down with Energy Storage for Annual Energy Cost Savings of up to $300,000 | Business Wire, 9 June 2010, www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609006089/en/Florida-Gulf-Coast-University-Cools-Energy-Storage. Accessed 01 November, 2018.

6

Environment & Sustainability,www.fgcu.edu/thefgcueffect/environmentandsustainability.aspx. Accessed 23 October, 2018.

7

Hanson, Susanna. "Saving megawatts with series-chiller plants: first-cost and energy savings can be expected from low-flow, low-temperature, and highly efficient chiller configurations." Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering, Jan. 2006, p. 37+. Academic ASAP, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A141699863/GPSu=gale15690&sid=GPS&xid=9d15c7ea. Accessed 6 Nov. 2018.

8

https://www.facilitiesservices.ufl.edu/departments/utilities/utilities-operations/

https://www.facilities.fsu.edu/depts/utilities/environmental.php

Sources for photos used:

Photo 2: https://www.flbog.edu/documents_meetings/0195_0925_7035_k1.%20FGCU%20Presentation%20.pdf

Photo 4: Crehan, Taylor. “How the Physical Plant Maintains Campus While FGCU Students Are Gone.” Eagle News - Florida Gulf Coast University, 13 Feb. 2016, eaglenews.org/news/fgcu/how-the-physical-plant-maintains-campus-while-students-are-gone/.