Case Study: National Aquarium achieves precise exhibit temperature control and sustainability gains with Veolia North America

Sustainable partnership with Veolia helps cool aquatic treasures

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, home to nearly 20,000 animals across 700+ species and visited by about 1.3 million people annually, needed reliable, precise cooling and sustainable disposal of electronic wastes to protect sensitive exhibits and guest comfort. To meet those challenges the National Aquarium contracted Veolia North America for district chilled water service and electronics recycling, supplementing on-site capacity and ensuring strict air and water temperature control for species with narrow thermal requirements.

Veolia North America supplies 1,250 tons of centrally produced chilled water (cooled to 37°F) under a long-term chilled water agreement (since 2001), serving roughly a dozen exhibits and minimizing temperature swings to within 2–3°F; it also refurbished on-site heat exchangers to eliminate downtime. In addition, Veolia North America recycles about 2,500 lamps and ballasts annually (recovering 310,155 mg of mercury), helping the Aquarium maintain animal welfare, visitor comfort, and measurable sustainability gains.

National Aquarium

John C. Racanelli

President and Chief Executive Officer