Florida College Cuts Energy Costs While Maintaining Uninterrupted Cooling Service
A small liberal arts college achieved substantial utility savings while maintaining consistent cooling operation through a carefully orchestrated implementation strategy.
850,000
kWh saved annually
28%
reduction in energy use
location
Florida
size
3,000 students
industry
Higher Ed
the problem
Budget Pressure Meets Operational Constraints
The small Florida campus was facing mounting pressure on their operational budget due to rising energy costs. With their chiller plant representing the largest electrical load on campus and operating year-round in Florida’s humid climate, it presented an obvious target for optimization. Yet the facilities team confronted a significant dilemma as they explored their options for increasing efficiency without compromising comfort. Three primary concerns shaped their approach to this challenge:
- Year-round humidity control critical for campus facilities
- Chiller plant represented largest electrical load on campus
- Any cooling interruption would severely impact academic operations
the solution
Partnership Focused on Continuity
The campus facilities team partnered with tekWorx to implement Xpress®, a real-time chiller plant optimization platform designed specifically for continuous enhancement of central plants without operational disruption. The solution integrated advanced controls with the existing infrastructure, allowing for incremental improvements while maintaining reliable cooling service. Working collaboratively, the teams developed a staged implementation approach that prioritized three essential elements:
- Zero-interruption guarantee for cooling services throughout implementation
- Minimal demands placed on already-busy facilities personnel
- Structured communication protocol with clear project milestones
“tekWorx understood thatmaintaining uninterrupted cooling was non-negotiablein our climate, and delivered substantial energy savings without disrupting campus operations. Their practical solutions worked seamlessly with our existing infrastructure and staff capabilities.”
Assistant Director, Facilities
the results
Efficiency Without Compromise
For this 3,000-student institution, the impact was substantial – reducing chiller plant energy consumption by 28% and saving approximately 850,000 kWh annually. This translated to over $92,000 in utility cost savings during the first year alone, representing nearly 15% of the college’s total energy budget. Through the carefully structured six-month implementation plan, these impressive results were achieved without disruption to normal cooling operations.