Chilling out

Keeping the temperature down while saving money on energy costs is a cool story — especially in Florida.

The Mid-Florida Processing and Distribution Center recently completed several projects that have not only improved the work environment, but also saved almost $300,000 a year in electricity costs.

A new chiller upgrade increases cooling capacity to meet the facility’s increasing needs at less cost. Mid-Florida also has installed improved lighting and controls, replaced old motors with premium efficiency motors, purchased new variable speed drives for some of its air handling units, and repaired leaks in its compressed air systems. The facility also installed a backup power system which will reduce operational costs caused by power outages.

These improvements will reduce USPS energy and maintenance costs. They’ll also reduce annual energy consumption by over 3.1 million kilowatt hours — about the same as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million pounds a year.