Georgia Institute of Technology Chiller Plant Optimization
HVAC optimization reaps savings and insights into daily plant operations
A Radical Change to Plant Operations
In 2016, Georgia Institute of Technology received permission from the state of Georgia to enter into a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC) and receive a $7.7 million loan—as long as the project could pay for itself within seven years. The team determined that improving the efficiency of the university’s two chiller plants would make the greatest impact.
Optimum Energy performed a rigorous audit, then scoped a comprehensive project: changing the pumping strategy, replacing two chillers, adding state-of-the-art upgrades, and installing OptimumLOOP® and the OptiCx® platform. On the first day, energy consumption dropped from 1.0 kW/ton to 0.65 kW/ton across the combined 28,152 tons of cooling capacity.
Georgia Tech anticipates saving nearly $1.5 million a year in energy costs, and efficiency is expected to continue improving as operations expand.
Two Plants. One Integrated Solution.
10th Street Plant (North Campus)
Holland Plant (South Campus)
Fiscal Commitment & Radical Change
Alexander had to prove to the state of Georgia that the project would improve facility efficiency and provide enough savings to repay the loan—while finding a solution provider that would guarantee the savings.
Guaranteed Savings Requirement
The GESPC required a provider willing to contractually guarantee energy and cost savings sufficient to repay a $7.7M state loan within seven years. After a three-month investment-grade audit, Optimum Energy and Johnson Controls made that commitment.
Major Mechanical Upgrades Required
The audit showed optimization would deliver required savings but necessitate major changes: replacing two old chillers with one larger high-efficiency unit, installing VFDs on 26 motors, and reconfiguring from primary-secondary to variable primary pumping.
Rigorous Network Security
“We have an absolute rule that nothing whatsoever touches the plant system.” Optimum developed a secure VPN-protected solution where data passes through loggers every 5 minutes—enabling real-time monitoring without direct network access.
Pumping Scheme Reconfiguration
Changing from primary-secondary to variable primary pumping raised concerns about eliminating a pump set. Optimum devised a bypass solution leaving primary pumps in place, giving Georgia Tech the flexibility to restore them if needed.
Cutting Energy Consumption by a Third
Projected Annual Utility Cost Savings
Anticipated annual savings in energy costs across both plants
Annual Electrical Energy Savings
More than a third cut from campus energy consumption
Annual Electrical Demand Reduction
Peak electrical demand reduction across both chiller plants
Annual CO₂ Emissions Reduction
CO₂ emissions savings per year at the chiller plants
Annual Operational Cost Savings
Additional savings in operational costs beyond utility bills
Immediate Results
Energy dropped from 1.0 to 0.65 kW/ton on the very first day of operation
By keeping the equipment operating at maximum efficiency, we’re saving money—and that’s what the optimization project is really about. I expect the plants to continue to improve and perform at a more efficient level than today. As we add more research buildings, we’ll definitely start off with optimization.
Nothing to Lose. Everything to Gain.
“This project gave us the opportunity to make a radical change to our chiller plant operations that would reduce the cost of chilled water production and benefit the entire campus,” said Alexander. “Because the vendor had to guarantee the savings, we had nothing to lose.”
Georgia Tech’s GESPC model—with contractually guaranteed savings and an investment-grade audit—demonstrates how higher education institutions can tackle large-scale energy optimization with no financial risk, while gaining the operational insights and efficiency gains that pay dividends for decades.
