About CSU Fullerton

CSU Fullerton (CSUF) is a public university in Fullerton, California. It was founded in 1957 and is part of the larger California State University system. It offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight colleges. The building EcoGreenVision has worked on is located in the basement of McCarthy Hall.

The Challenge

Approaching EcoGreenVision, CSU Fullerton’s decision makers were facing major issues with their outdated central plant. Actually, their main concern was high utility bills; however, they had no idea that the problem lay in their central plant. Having a fixed budget, CSUF had to allocate more funds to utility bills, which limited its ability to fund other necessary areas of work.

It wasn’t a relief when decision makers realized the outdated central plant was the problem. It was a painful reality that intimidated them. All because installing a new central plant for such a big institute isn’t an easy process, and obviously not a cheap one either.

We asked for a thorough analysis of their central plant, and gladly, they approved an on-site visit to their central plant components. After conducting a few energy audits and assessing the systems, we spotted the components of the central plant with the most energy loss. Also, by analyzing the utility bills and ROI estimates, we found out that upgrading some components with the highest energy loss can decrease utility bills to a great degree.

As a result, we implemented the central Plant upgrade delivering the project on time with zero operational disruptions.

EcoGreenVision’s Solution

Yes, it’s been easier than the reinstallation of a central plant, but the upgrading process is not an uncomplicated process either. It takes a lot of energy and has so many elaborate steps. Here’s what we offered in our central plant optimization process: * We installed a 2,000 kW electric Heating Hot Water (HHW) boiler.
* We installed three primary HHW pumps equipped with variable frequency drives (VFDs).
* We installed a 4000A unit substation switchgear board.
* We integrated a comprehensive supporting controls system.

What EcoGreenVision did through these upgrades, modernized critical infrastructure, enhanced energy efficiency, and supported the campus’s long-term sustainability goals.

The upgrading process was a $1.4 million operation, nearly three times less than a full plant replacement. Yet, it delivered almost the same energy savings.Within months, the utility bills were cut by 32% after the upgrade, freeing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for other campus needs.

Results in A Glance:

• $750,000 saved in 3 years
• 18% annual cost savings
• 10-year AHU lifespan extension
• No disruption to hospital operations during upgrades

Here is a letter of recommendation from John Spencer of , the project manager of CSU Fullerton.
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What’s Next

Sometimes the way to achieve a more efficient operation is easier than you could ever imagine. A few fixed and small upgrades can alter the costing to a high degree. All you need is an expert opinion on your existing central plant and HVAC system.