A new central utility plant for Phoenix Children’s Hospital uses new technology and other innovations that will save 5.6 million gallons of water per year for the water-scarce Phoenix area (enough for 120 households) and will guarantee $570,000 in energy savings per year over 15 years, versus a traditional design.

They are using a chiller, which is the most efficient way to cool using existing technology. Basically, you make ice all night long and then blow air over it during the day for A/C. They basically do the opposite in the winter to make hot air and hot water.

Chase Field and surrounding buildings all share one massive chiller to heat and cool, as does the entire campus of UofA. I think ASU does, but my memory is failing there.

The only way they could use less energy to generate hot and cold water is to use solar hot water to help off-set the natural gas used to run the compressors. But, that technology is still being rolled out. Not in time for the new hospital tower.

Still, its pretty cool. I hope all new buildings take this same tactic.

Learn more at the developer’s website.