ST. FRANCIS REPLACES COOLING TOWERS

St. Francis Medical Center will have an even better defense against heat waves in the future.

The cooling system at the hospital is not broken, but a little prevention may save some future headaches. The current cooling towers on the West side of the hospital are 24-years-old. The hospital is replacing the old towers with three newer ones that will be operational this fall.

"This is a project we have been planning for some time," said Kim Groves, spokeswoman for St. Francis Medical Center. "It is not like we said, 'Oh, it is hot, let's replace them.' The whole idea is that before we do incur some difficulties, we ought to replace them."

The entire project includes three cooling towers, one chiller and a building that has the potential to house an additional three chillers. The price tag for the operation is $1 million.

"This addition will take care of future growth," said Richard Essner, Sr., director of environmental engineering at the hospital.

The new system will use water rather than freon to cool the building.

Essner said the new system will be more efficient than the old one. He said the new chillers will be almost 50 percent more efficient.

"It is just like when you get a new air conditioner at home," Essner said. "You save money in energy costs."

He said the age of the old cooling towers and the constant need for repairs is what prompted the investment in new equipment.

"We're adding capacity for future growth," Essner said. "We are replacing equipment that some of it is 24-years-old. It is getting harder and harder to get parts for it when we have to do repairs."