February 6 2023
Chicago, Illinois - With great pride, CenTrio announces that it has secured carbon-free operations for its Chicago district cooling system. This system, which is North America's largest downtown district cooling system, has been designed and operated to reduce on peak power use (sources highest in carbon intensity), conserve water, and promote resiliency in the region.
“We are proud to announce that as of 2023, our Chicago district will be a carbon-free operation," said Jim Lodge, COO of CenTrio. "This achievement is the result of years of analysis and research by our employees, who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to implement sustainable solutions and reduce our carbon footprint."
CenTrio's Chicago district cooling system has been in operation since 1995 and has grown from a single central plant serving a few customers to a district of five distribution plants serving over 53 million square feet of commercial, residential, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and critical process load customers. The system's growth has been guided by a commitment to operational excellence, efficiency, reliability, and environmental sustainability.
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In 2021, CenTrio completed a modernization project at distribution Plant 2, replacing end-of-life equipment with more efficient chillers and cooling towers, reducing reliance on R-22 refrigerant, and increasing chilled water and ice production capacity by approximately 6,000 tons. CenTrio has invested over $300 million in the growth and operation of its Chicago system and continues to explore new ways to leverage existing infrastructure and improve its operations.
"At CenTrio, we believe that sustainability is not just a trend, but a fundamental part of our business model,” said Steve Swinson, CEO of CenTrio. “We are committed to exploring new, innovative ways to build a sustainable future for our customers, our employees, and the communities we serve, while continuing to reduce our impact on the environment.”
CenTrio's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its Chicago district cooling system. The organization is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability throughout all of their operations across the United States and has set ambitious long-term goals for its future. CenTrio’s approach to sustainability is to utilize environmentally responsible, innovative low carbon technologies balanced with prudent social and financial goals. This approach yields creative infrastructure solutions to tackle broader issues regarding the global climate crisis.
With its carbon-free operations and commitment to sustainability, CenTrio is poised to play a leading role in the transition to a more sustainable future.
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About CenTrio
CenTrio is a sustainable energy leader that provides innovative heating, cooling, and electricity solutions across the US. CenTrio owns and operates intelligent thermal energy systems that generate, store, and share energy with key assets in Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland.
To learn more, please visit CenTrio at centrioenergy.com....
Read the full news release here
