Cooling & Chillers

How Traditional Peak Load Assumptions Are Becoming Unreliable Under Today’s Conditions

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:38:16 -0400

Peak-load calculations once kept HVAC design simple, but clinging to them could leave modern buildings unprepared for the real world.

HDPE Cooling Tower from the Early ’80s Still 'Chillin’ to the Max'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:56:23 -0400

Installed in 1981, an HDPE cooling tower at Radio Frequency Company has operated continuously for over 40 years – far surpassing the typical lifespan of metal models.

Infinitum Unveils Grid-Friendly EC Fan Systems at AHR Expo, Targeting Data Centers

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:14:28 -0500

New integrated EC Fan Systems promise higher efficiency, fewer motors, and grid-friendly power for data centers and mission-critical environments.

Wake Forest University South Chiller Plant: Vertical Innovation and Campus Impact

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:09:29 -0500

How Wake Forest University’s South Chiller Plant upgrade sets a new standard for campus infrastructure – boosting cooling capacity, preserving campus land, and blending cutting-edge engineering with iconic architecture.

How Smart Pump Technology Helped a Newly Built Marriott Save 70% on Energy Use

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

A Toronto-area Marriott used Armstrong Fluid Technology’s performance envelope platform to cut its energy use by 70% – and discovered even bigger potential savings for buildings not on district heating.

Unstable Transitions in HVAC Operations: Chiller Rotation Part I

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:11:54 -0500

Dive into how chiller rotation sequences in variable flow HVAC systems can unexpectedly disrupt operations – and how refined automation logic can help keep things running smoothly.

Proactive Chiller Maintenance for Long-Term Reliability

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:08:12 -0400

Preventive maintenance keeps chillers reliable, efficient, and ready for summer’s demands – year after year.

Insulating for Resilience and Efficiency: 6 Factors to Inform the Spec

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:09:46 -0400

The newly renovated Borlaug Center makes use of mechanical insulating materials that support resilience and efficiency.

Aerapy: All-Spectrum UV Monitoring System

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:53:17 -0400

Continuous, automated UV performance tracking — no more manual checks or guesswork.

Carrier and Modine Push Forward with Major Expansions

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:27:17 -0400

Carrier and Modine are rolling out major U.S. expansions, creating thousands of jobs and betting big on the future of climate and cooling technology.

Video: AIIR’s Anshuman Bhargava Discusses Smarter, Sustainable HVAC Solutions

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 14 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

AIIR is responding to new energy and air quality regulations by developing a heat pump system that uses artificial intelligence to adapt to user habits and improve comfort and efficiency.

Why Genuine Parts Matter for Cooling System Reliability

Thu, 08 May 2025 13:01:00 -0400

When it comes to cooling system maintenance, the smallest choices can ripple into major consequences. Using parts designed for your specific equipment isn’t just a matter of preference — it’s a question of dependable performance and long-term savings.

From Cooling Towers to Cost Savings: Hospital Seizes Power Saving Opportunity

Mon, 05 May 2025 15:23:00 -0400

Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, replaces its aging cooling towers — overhauling its entire mechanical system with advanced, low-maintenance technology.

Streamlining the Low-GWP Refrigerant Transition with Smart Tools

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:31:26 -0400

Piping requirements under A2L refrigerant guidelines will remain similar to legacy refrigerants in many cases. However, it is important to adjust calculations.

Designing High-Efficiency Systems for Georgia Gwinnett College's First Convocation Center

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:59:52 -0500

The Gateway Building fills a gap in the Georgia Gwinnett College campus life in more ways than one.

Decoupled Hydronic Systems: The DX-DOAS Advantage

danh@vatriecsolutions.com (Dan Hahne) — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:46:33 -0500

Examining more closely how a building’s sensible and latent loads can be more effectively met opens numerous design possibilities, ES NEWS guest contributors argue.

How Windham Hospital Replaced their Chiller

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:43:15 -0500

With Windham Hospital swapping to engine-driven cooling, they are expected to save 200 tons of carbon emissions annually by using natural gas directly and efficiently.

Software vs. Hardwired Interlocks: Part I

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

This project forced ES NEWS commissioning columnist Miles Ryan to think far deeper than he ever wanted to about the concepts of interlocks of where they can go wrong.

RenewAire: HE7X Commercial ERV

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:45:20 -0500

RenewAire has introduced the HE7X, a commercial energy recovery ventilator designed for flexible HVAC applications.

How to Decarbonize Chilled Water HVAC Systems

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:49:19 -0500

We need to be making our buildings more energy efficient so that smaller amounts of renewable electricity are needed and less capacity needs to be built, whitepaper authors argue.

Daikin Applied: Magnetic Bearing Oil-Free Centrifugal Chiller

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:02:26 -0500

The chiller provides 250-450 tons (900- 1,600 kW) of cooling and 3600-5300 MBH (1,000-1,550 kW) of heating. This dual capability eliminates the need for separate heating equipment.

Busting Four Myths About Engine Driven Chillers

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:11:45 -0500

With thousands of chillers operating successfully in all varieties of applications, it’s time to uncover the myths about these chillers.

Analysts Project Global Growth for Chillers Market

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:35:28 -0500

Air-cooled chillers are projected to hold a leading position in the Global Chillers market, and centrifugal chillers outshine other compressor technologies, Adroit Market Research analysts project.

Baltimore Aircoil: Loop Platform

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:13:22 -0400

The Loop Platform minimizes unexpected downtime, streamlining operations for building owners, facility managers, and maintenance professionals.

The Remaining Freon Supply is Dwindling. Now What?

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As of January 1, 2020, the EPA made it illegal to import or manufacture the common refrigerant Freon, also known as R-22, in the U.S. — a major problem for facilities still using it.

Using MAU Cooling Coils as Dry Coolers, Part III

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This is the third and final installment in the series on using makeup air unit (MAU) cooling coils as dry coolers.

Using MAU Cooling Coils as Dry Coolers

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Using chilled-water cooling coils within makeup air units (MAUs) as dry coolers offers enhanced operational stability even in lower ambient temperatures. Explore real-world case studies, where smart sequence modifications optimized performance.

Chilled Water Cooling Load Diversity

hmckew@bss-consultant.com (Howard McKew, P.E., C.P.E.) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Seldom will the central plant management maintain the hourly peak chilled water load requirements.

The Future of Commercial Buildings is Electrically Driven

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

All-electric infrastructure is a pivotal step toward achieving net-zero emissions in the building sector, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

The hidden carbon emissions in cooling towers

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Conventional towers can get the cooling job done. But they usually won’t be as efficient and will often bring additional challenges.