Duke Facilities Management worked with campus stakeholders in Duke Libraries, Duke Athletics and Housing and Residence Life to enhance building management through scheduled HVAC shutdowns. These efforts resulted in cost savings and energy reduction. The collaboration between Duke Libraries and Duke Facilities Management, initiated in October 2023, focused on programming enhancements and scheduled HVAC shutdowns, avoiding $675,000 in utility costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1700 MTCO2e over 20 months.
In summer 2025, Duke Facilities Management executed HVAC shutdowns in the Hollows and Few Dorms, addressing occupancy challenges through proactive management in collaboration with Housing and Residence Life to save $125,000 and reduce emissions by 215 MTCO2e, with plans to expand these initiatives in summer 2026. LEARN MORE.
Closeup of the cooling towers at Chiller Plant 3, part of Duke’s district level HVAC. In summer 2025, Duke Facilities Management executed HVAC shutdowns in the Hollows and Few Dorms to save $125,000 and reduce emissions by 215 MTCO2e.