U.S. Capitol
2U.S. Capitol Power Plant
Washington, D.C.
System started: 1909.
Services provided: Steam for space heating and
process needs; chilled water for air conditioning
and process cooling.
Buildings on system: 19.
Most unique building on system: U.S. Capitol,
among most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in world. Has housed
meeting chambers of Senate and House of Representatives for almost two centuries; also is museum of American art and history. Begun in 1793,
Capitol has been built, burned, rebuilt, extended
and restored; today stands as monument not
only to its builders but also to American people
and government.
Best area tourist attraction: U.S. Capitol,
visited each year by estimated 3 million- 5 million
people from around the world. Open to public
for guided tours only, conducted between 9
a.m. and 4: 30 p.m. Monday through Saturday,
including all federal holidays except Thanksgiving
and Christmas Day. Visitors can obtain free tickets
for tours at Capitol Guide Service kiosk near
First Street S. W. and Independence Ave. Other
top attractions: Supreme Court and Library of
Congress, also served by Capitol district heating
system.
War Memorial
5Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Va.
System started: Central steam plant, 1922;
central chilled-water plant, 1971; electric distribution system, 1890.
Services provided: Steam for heating and
process requirements; chilled water for air conditioning; electricity to meet campus power
demand, plus that of 6,000 Blacksburg residents
© 2003 RightMinds. Courtesy Richmond
Metropolitan Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
White House of the Confederacy
3Virginia Commonwealth
University Steam Plant – Medical
College of Virginia Campus
Richmond, Va.
System started: 1935; Thermal Ventures Inc.
took over operations in 2000.
Services provided: Steam for space heating.
Buildings on system: More than 50, including
State of Virginia complex, Virginia Commonwealth University and Medical College of Virginia
(only academic medical center in central
Virginia).
Most unique building on system: White
House of the Confederacy, gray-stuccoed
neoclassical mansion built in 1818 by John
Brockenborough, president of Bank of Virginia.
Home to succession of wealthy families throughout antebellum period. From 1861 to 1865 was
Executive Mansion of Confederate States of
America, official residence of President Jefferson
Davis and family. Served as social, political and
military center of Confederacy. Museum now
includes house and and adjacent building filled
with world’s most comprehensive collections of
artifacts, manuscripts and photographs from
period.
Best area tourist attraction: Nearby Brown’s
Island, named after Henry “Box” Brown who had
himself nailed into a small box and shipped from
Richmond to Philadelphia to avoid slavery. Located
between Haxall Canal and James River, island is
now entertainment venue with beautiful city views.
on local utility grid. Most of Virginia Tech’s power
purchased wholesale from American Electric
Power and re-sold to university and town customers through Virginia Tech Electric Service auxiliary. Approximately 6 MW of power can be
cogenerated at central steam plant during winter.
Buildings on systems: Steam, 370; chilled
water, 32.
Most unique building on system: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
Opened in 1980 as partnership between states of
Virginia and Maryland. Complex connected to
campus steam and electric distribution systems.
Courtesy University of Virginia.
The Rotunda
4University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Va.
System started: Main heat plant, 1950; first
chiller plant, 1987.
Services provided: Steam and medium- and
high-temperature hot water for space heating
and domestic hot water; steam also used for
research, food services, sterilization, humidity
control; chilled water for air conditioning.
Buildings on system: Steam/hot water, 171;
chilled water, 89.
Most unique building on system: Thomas
Jefferson’s Academical Village, the central
University of Virginia (UVa) grounds designed
by Jefferson in early 1820s, considered masterpiece of American architecture and UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Includes the Rotunda,
pavilions, hotels, dormitories and a vast lawn.
Jefferson considered his founding of UVa and
design of its grounds among his proudest
accomplishments. Now completely heated from
main heat plant, Rotunda formerly cooled by its
own chillers and cooling towers inside under
front steps, which caused serious moisture
damage.
Best area tourist attraction: Besides the
Academical Village, either nearby Monticello –
Jefferson’s home, currently on ‘tail’ of the nickel
– or Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James
Monroe. Construction of Monticello was completed in 1809. Not far from Monticello, Ash
Lawn-Highland dates to late 1700s; now historic
house museum, 535-acre working farm and
performing arts site.
Best area tourist attraction: War Memorial
Chapel on Virginia Tech campus. A tribute from
alumni and friends to those sons and daughters
of Virginia Tech who died in nation’s wars.
Memorial has two parts at different levels: At
foundation level is the chapel, opening onto
campus’s drill field; the upper level is Memorial
Court. Chapel is connected to Virginia Tech’s
steam and electric distribution systems.
