Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Kentucky Integrates New Cleaning Technology

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/24/25

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently installed a new cleaning system designed to improve cooling efficiency on campus, according to a news release. The Facilities Management’s Utilities and Energy Management Unit installed new chiller tubes into two of the chillers at the university’s Central Utility Plant. The technology deploys small rubber balls into the condenser’s water flow every 20 minutes, the news release reports, reducing the manual labor required to keep them functioning.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency, the installation of this technology represents the latest step toward optimizing energy use on campus,” said Mary Vosevich, the university’s vice president for facilities and chief facilities officer. “By streamlining maintenance processes with this technology, we’re not only saving valuable resources but also reinforcing UK’s role as a innovate leader in facilities management.”

According to the news release, the university uses district cooling, which produces chilled water at a network of central plants and sends it miles away through underground pipes to university buildings. Scale and dirt can accumulate on the inner walls of the tubes, decreasing energy efficiency over the course of a season. The current cleaning process requires shutting the system down and sending a brush through about a thousand tubes.

The new system automatically injects small rubber balls into the water flow to scrub away the scale or dirt without manual labor or deactivating the system.

“Having a system that can keep the tubes clean year-round helps us fix the long-standing challenge of losing efficiency through the year as contaminants build up in the tubes,” said Carter Whitton, the Facilities Management team’s utilities systems manager. “Achieving those improvements will be a tremendous energy saver and have a substantial sustainability impact.”

According to the news release, the Helios Tube Cleaning System is expected to save the university tens of thousands of dollars per year.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.