The ~$30 million energy conservation project at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) includes the installation of 24 air handling units and the implementation of sophisticated heating and cooling controls in University Hall and the Behavioral Sciences Building, which is UIC’s largest classroom building. The scope of work will:

• Improve temperature control through heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades
• Address deferred maintenance of aged mechanical equipment

This initiative is expected to generate approximately $1 million in combined annual energy and operational savings for UIC. These improvements are also expected to reduce the campus’ greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by approximately 2,100+ metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is the equivalent GHG emissions of ~5.5 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle, or the carbon sequestered by ~2,100 acres of US forests in one year.

This project builds on the strong reputation and legacy of UIC as a leader in sustainability in higher education. The project maps directly to the first recommendation in the current Climate Commitment Action Plan that states UIC’s intention to be more energy efficient.  The large-scale energy efficiency upgrades that will be made to essential building HVAC systems are designed to reduce consumption, costs, and carbon and drive progress towards UIC’s 2050 climate commitments.

By upgrading critical systems, this project demonstrates the transformative potential of modern energy efficiency solutions to reduce environmental impact, enhance functionality, and create more comfortable spaces for students, faculty and staff.