BALTIMORE — RMF Engineering will lead a chiller upgrade project at the University at Albany (UAlbany), which is part of the State University of New York system.
The project, part of UAlbany’s $30 million decarbonization plan, involves replacing two aging absorption chillers at the central power plant, which was built in the 1960s, with high-efficiency electric centrifugal chillers and heat-recovery chillers, which will be connected to a new geothermal well field in the Dutch Quad parking lot on UAlbany’s Uptown Campus.
“We are proud to support State University of New York and University at Albany in advancing its decarbonization goals and implementing leading sustainable practices on campus,” said Eric Chrencik, a project manager at RMF Engineering, in a press release. “The shift toward low-carbon infrastructure reflects the integrated, forward-thinking engineering we’re excited to deliver, combining reliable chiller technology with an energy-efficient approach to meet the specific operational needs of the university.”
RMF is also designing modifications to domestic hot water systems in more than 25 buildings as well as new low-temperature hot-water piping for the campus athletic facilities. These upgrades will allow the central plant’s gas-fired boilers to shut down during the summer months.
The new Dutch Quad geothermal well field will have between 90 and 135 bore holes as deep as 800 feet. Crews began drilling geothermal test bores in the parking lot in March. Overall, the project will increase chilled water generating capacity while reducing UAlbany’s annual natural gas usage by an estimated 16%, the project said.
UAlbany’s decarbonization project will help move the State University of New York’s toward its goal of decarbonizing its footprint across the state, as New York works to meet the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires an 85 percent reduction in New York’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.