Solar Hot Water Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) University of Illinois

This project added 24 new solar panels on the roof of the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus. Instead of using the more widely known solar photovoltaic panels to produce electricity, thermal solar panels were used.  This allows the energy from the sun to be used to provide supplemental heating for both the indoor and outdoor swimming pools at the Activities and Recreation Center.

Services rendered: Heating, Electrical and Structural Design

Project Features:

• New hydronic system installed with glycol to protect against freezing during the winter months
• Two new heat exchangers installed to transfer heat from the new hydronic system to the indoor and outdoor pool water.
• Additional Structural support system to the roof.
• Energy monitoring points were added to the existing Building Automation System (BAS).