Ball State University's EECBG project

Not many people think about all of the equipment that goes into making a university computer system work, nor do they think about the amount of energy it takes to run and cool all of those servers.  In a time of rising costs, and increased competition, universities must do all that they can to keep their equipment up and running. 

With the help of a grant from the Indiana Office of Energy Development, Ball State was able to replace two existing 16 ton Liebert Computer Room Air Conditioners (CRACs) with three new in-row computer rack coolers in the Robert Bell building main computer room.  The new in-row rack coolers utilize central plant produced chilled water, the production of which is much more efficient than the existing CRACs.  This project will greatly reduce the buildings’ and the campus electrical demand in the immediate future and to an even greater extent once the campus is converted over to its new geothermal system.   The estimated savings will be over $34,000 per year.  As a bonus, the existing CRACs will remain available for backup use thereby also improving the reliability of all campus networks.

Ball State University received an Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) in 2010.  EECBG is funded through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 through the U.S. Department of Energy.  The program is administered by the Indiana Office of Energy Development.