New buildings can connect directly to the chilled water system, avoiding the cost and maintenance required for separate cooling equipment. Finally, because both electrical chillers and steam driven absorbers are available at the central plants, the University has more flexibility when choosing its energy sources used for cooling. The University's Water Plant supplies the domestic water while the Power Plant provides all of the steam. An outside utility company provides most of the electricity. Steam driven absorption units can supply up to 8,900 Tons of cooling.
Absorbers use water as a refrigerant and steam as an energy source.
Compressing units use chemical refrigerants and are similar in operation to residential air conditioners. The main differences are with respect to size and the fact that chillers cool water instead of air. Steam turbines or electrical motors power the chilled water plant's compressing units. Up to 14,060 Tons are available using these types of chillers. The West Plant also has a million-gallon cold water storage tank.