Keeping Duke Cool
A chilled water system controls temperature and humidity in buildings across campus
When temperatures in the Triangle set a record for most consecutive days at 100 degrees or more in the beginning of July, students, faculty, staff and visitors wouldn't have known it unless they stepped outside.
That's because Duke's chilled water system makes sure things stay cool inside.
The system constantly pumps 38.5-degree water through 15 miles of pipes across campus to control temperatures and humidity in Duke buildings -- even during triple digit heat for six-straight days, which struck the area July 3 to 8.
Two main chiller plants supply up to 42,000 tons of cooling capacity, which is the equivalent of keeping about 14,000 two-story homes cool. Additional "satellite" chillers offer another 5,000 tons of capacity. The most cooling Duke has needed this summer was 34,000 tons on June 29.