Lake Source Cooling Pipes under Libe Slope

You are now at the top of Libe Slope! Take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, extending from Cornell’s West Campus to the outskirts of Ithaca. You may not notice, but under your feet runs an elaborate network of Lake Source Cooling (LSC) pipes. The LSC system is an open lake-water loop and a closed campus loop which work together to cool Cornell University and Ithaca High School. From where you’re standing, you can see Cayuga Lake, the main water resource used to implement the Lake Source Cooling system. Although you may not see the Lake Source Cooling facility from up here, you will get a chance to check it out later in the tour. Another interesting feature of Libe Slope is the use of grasses that are naturally slow growing; this allows other areas to naturalize on their own, limiting mowing to once a year. This initiative significantly reduces the carbon footprint for the area and minimizes the need for watering and fertilizer.