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Central Heating/Chiller Plant

The Central Heating and Chilling Plants are located on the north side of the Oshkosh campus. The Heating Plant is a 24/7, 365-day operation that provides steam to all campus buildings throughout the year for heat, hot water and cooking steam in Blackhawk commons. The Chilling Plant is attached to the Woodland Ave. side of the Heating Plant and provides chilled water to campus buildings for cooling in the summer months. The primary fuels for making steam are #2 fuel oil and natural gas. The university stopped burning coal in 2020. 

The Heating Plant consists of four boilers, two 45,000 lbs. /hr., one 25,000 lbs. /hr., and one 100,000 lbs. /hr. that are capable of burning natural gas.  The 25,000 lbs. /hr. and 100,000 lbs. /hr. can also burn No.2 fuel oil. 

During 2000-2001, the University installed a 15,000 sq. ft. addition to the Heating Plant in order to accommodate two 1400 ton and one 450 ton central chillers, associated piping, cooling towers, electrical and mechanical support equipment. A chilled water loop was also buried that runs directly underneath the main pedestrian mall and along High Ave. that services the core of the academic campus.

The Central Heating Plant employs highly trained and licensed boiler operators. The Central Heating Plant shuts down for one week every year after spring graduation in conjunction with our Facility Management teammates to perform on campus repairs, boiler and equipment inspections and maintenance that cannot be performed when the plant is in operation. The Heating Plant looks forward to the challenges presented to us so we can continue to provide uninterrupted services at the lowest possible cost to our valued users.

Russ Reinders

Heating/Cooling Plant Superintendent
Phone: (920) 424-4484
Email: reinderr@uwosh.edu

Power Plant Operator- In Charge 
Chris Deringer

We are located in the Campus Services Center across the Fox River from the Oshkosh campus. The facility is the second building on the right hand side of Witzel Avenue.

Monday-Friday
7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Staff availability may vary, please call ahead.

650 Witzel Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54902

Phone: (920) 424-3466

Fax: (920) 424-0259