Central plants typically utilize four major components including: energy sources; systems to convert the energy sources to thermal energy, (chilled and hot water); transmission and distribution systems; and an end-use component such as individual buildings redistributing heating/cooling agents within the building to provide thermal comfort and ventilation. Central plant systems are often used in campus environments to serve multiple buildings with heating and/or cooling agents from a central plant source.
Ameresco has the capability to design and construct a central plant or cogeneration system providing power, heat and/or cooling to a building, or a small-scale plant that produces electricity, gas, heat or cooling from renewable sources of energy.
Upgrades to boilers, chillers and steam traps helped contribute to annual energy savings of more than $1,500,000.
Arizona State University
Ameresco designed and built an 8 MW combined heat and power facility as part of central plant upgrades engineered to support future campus expansion.
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Connecting a local supply of natural gas to a new central plant saved more than 1 million MMBtu annually.