Up Close: Alachua Library Keeps Its Cool

摘要

In hot climates, air conditioning is a necessity to keep libraries livable for patrons and staff, especially during the summer. Climate warming is only exacerbating that situation. Unfortunately, air conditioning in turn accelerates climate warming. Now, innovative alternative cooling systems are looking to reduce that environmental impact, and the Alachua County Library District (ACLD), Gainesville, FL, is leading by example. Dan Whitcraft, Alachua's library facilities administrator, was the one who originally proposed installing CALMAC's thermal energy storage (TES) system at ACLD's headquarters. It freezes water at night, so melted-down cold water can cool the air that flows through the 80,000 square foot building during the day.