Rice Community Hospital’s New Chiller System – A Cool Investment for Rice County

At Rice Community Hospital, we’re always looking for ways to improve healthcare while being mindful of our resources. That’s why we’re excited to share a major upgrade that benefits our patients, staff, and the entire Rice County community—our brand-new, high-efficiency chiller system!

If you’ve ever been inside a hospital during the summer, you know that keeping it cool isn’t just about comfort—it’s essential. Proper cooling protects patients, medical equipment, and hospital operations. But cooling a large facility like ours requires a lot of energy. That’s why we’ve made a forward-thinking investment in two high-efficiency chillers that improve both our hospital’s operations and benefit the broader Rice County community.

How It Works

Unlike traditional cooling systems that run at full power during peak hours, our new system is designed to be more efficient. It uses two ice storage tanks to cool the hospital when energy demand is at its highest. Here’s how it works:

• Ice is made at night: When energy demand is lower, the system freezes water into ice inside a specialized storage tank.
• Cool air is provided during the day: That stored ice helps cool the hospital when electricity is most expensive and in high demand.
• Better efficiency, lower costs: This setup reduces strain on the power grid, lowers operational costs, and helps us use energy more sustainably.

A Win for the Community

Our previous system required a massive amount of electricity to keep the hospital cool, especially during summer. With our new chillers and advanced air economizer technology, we’ve drastically improved our energy efficiency. The biggest benefits of this upgrade include:

• Lower electricity usage – Using ice storage cooling allows us to use significantly less power during peak hours.
• Reduced strain on the local power grid – By shifting energy consumption away from peak demand times, we help ensure more stable power availability for Rice County businesses and residents.
• Significant cost savings – Lower energy use means we save money, which can be reinvested into better patient care, more staff resources, and future healthcare improvements.
• A commitment to sustainability – Our hospital is taking meaningful steps toward energy conservation and environmental responsibility, ensuring a healthier future for the community.

Darren Bottom, Director of Facilities, shared his enthusiasm for the project:
“We believe that small changes add up to big differences. Many buildings in cities like New York have been using ice storage cooling for years because it’s a very efficient way to manage energy demand.”

This investment reflects our commitment to being responsible stewards of both financial and environmental resources. So, the next time you walk into the hospital and feel that cool, refreshing air, know that it’s not just keeping you comfortable—it’s also part of an innovative, energy-smart solution that benefits everyone.