Despite financial obstacles, construction for the chiller plant next to the Campus Life Building is underway.

After clearing the site and setting up a fence around it, workers broke ground and they will complete the project in an estimated 18 to 24 months.

“They’ll be doing most of the excavation work in the fall so they’ll be ready to go to work right through winter,” said Jeff Daurer, the NIU Director of Capital Budget and Planning.

The chiller plant project has faced financial setbacks in the course of its progress.

In 2002 when underground pipes were being laid out, the project had come to a halt when state funds were frozen. This year, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity could not commit its $800,000 to the project, leaving NIU to foot the bill.

Despite these financial obstacles, the current funding is in place.

“Everything’s in place to begin the project,” said Bob Albanese, the associate vice president for finance and facilities. “All the money’s been identified and are available.”

The more than $16 million project will cool buildings on the east side of the campus through the underground pipelines that were completed during the summer construction. Among these buildings are Swen Parson, Altgeld, Wirtz and Davis Hall.

However, not only is the plant a provision to cool buildings but also part of the environment-friendly effort to reduce chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that deplete ozone.

The new plant is replacing old individual chilling units that have been in service for 25 to 40 years and have been emitting CFCs, a compound found in aerosol propellants.

“In terms of supplying air conditioning here, the plant will use new lower impact refrigerants that will meet environmental standards,” said Ron Beldon, a mechanical engineer in Architectural and Engineering Services.

It is also expected that about $300,000 will be saved by replacing the old units, however, that estimate may decrease with rising energy costs.