Warm reception for hospital chiller upgrade

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The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has a new, 2,700-ton chiller, thanks to PSE&G’s hospital energy-efficiency program.

The chiller, which will provide water for drinking and medical services throughout UMDNJ’s 5 million-square-foot facility, was installed last week, replacing a 40-year-old model.

Under the Board of Public Utilities-approved program, PSE&G paid the $11.4 million price tag for the system. UMDNJ will repay about 30 percent of that cost over a three-year, no-interest financing arrangement. The university’s energy savings are expected to cover that cost, said Chris Kosseff, senior vice president for administration at the university.
Kosseff said such a project would not have been possible for the university without the program.

“Given the tight finances of higher education, there’s not a chance we could have purchased this kind of equipment,” he said.
Al Matos, vice president of renewables for PSE&G, said the program already has helped 19 of the 51 hospitals in the utility’s service area. It also includes a free investment-grade energy audit to identify key energy reduction steps.

The $79 million hospital program is part of a $240 million energy efficiency initiative bythe utility.

– Jared Kaltwasser