{"691588":{"#nid":"691588","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet Tech\u0027s Utilities Maestro: Jermaine Clonts","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost members of the Georgia Tech community rarely think about campus utilities, and that\u0027s exactly how Jermaine Clonts likes it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs associate director of Utilities Management within Infrastructure and Operations, Clonts and his team work around the clock to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and researchers have reliable access to electricity, heating, cooling, and water. While much of that work happens out of sight, it plays a critical role in supporting every aspect of campus life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022In the utilities business, no news is usually good news,\u0022 said Clonts. \u0022Most people don\u0027t think about heating, cooling, electricity, or water until something stops working.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKeeping Campus Running\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClonts oversees the utility infrastructure that helps keep Georgia Tech operating every day. His responsibilities include managing the Institute\u0027s district energy systems, which generate heating and cooling for buildings across campus, as well as overseeing relationships with utility providers and vendors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis team also tracks energy consumption, benchmarks building performance, identifies conservation opportunities, and supports both Georgia Tech\u0027s Climate Action Plan and long-term utility planning efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile many assume that universities simply purchase utilities from outside providers, Clonts says Georgia Tech\u0027s operation is much more complex.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETech operates two central district energy plants that generate heating and cooling for a large portion of campus. Beneath the sidewalks, roads, and green spaces lies an extensive network of underground pipes that distribute chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to campus buildings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It\u0027s infrastructure that works every day to keep campus comfortable and operational,\u0022 Clonts said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo Such Thing as a Typical Day\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause Georgia Tech operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is no ordinary day in utilities management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClonts usually begins each morning by reviewing the status of utility systems and district energy plants to ensure they are meeting campus demands. Any equipment issues, outages, or operational concerns immediately become top priorities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce critical operations are addressed, his work shifts toward long-term improvements.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Whether we\u0027re responding to an emergency, making campus more resilient, identifying ways to operate more efficiently, advancing sustainability goals, or planning infrastructure that will support Georgia Tech for the next decade, there\u0027s always something new to tackle,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupporting Every Corner of Campus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom residence halls and classrooms to research laboratories, athletic facilities, and offices, reliable utility systems make teaching, learning, research, and campus experiences possible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EManaging those services comes with unique challenges.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the largest is the diversity of campus facilities, where each building, lab, or athletic facility comes with different operational needs. The age of campus infrastructure adds another layer of complexity, with some buildings featuring modern, energy-efficient systems while others have served the Institute for decades.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe need to maintain uninterrupted service for critical operations makes planning and maintenance even more important.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing Sustainability Through Energy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of Georgia Tech\u0027s sustainability goals are directly connected to the work of utilities management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Our greenhouse gas inventory is heavily influenced by two key areas: the natural gas we use for heating and the electricity we purchase to power campus operations,\u0022 Clonts said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne initiative he is especially excited about is the electrification of heating systems and transportation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute is working to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning building heating systems to technologies such as heat-recovery chillers and expanding the use of electric vehicles across campus. Infrastructure and Operations also regularly invests in energy efficiency improvements, including lighting upgrades and HVAC system optimization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This transition supports Georgia Tech\u0027s Climate Action goals, improves efficiency, and helps reduce local air pollutants,\u0022 Clonts said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETechnology is also changing the way utility systems are managed. Smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure now provide real-time utility data, allowing Clonts\u0027 team to monitor building performance more closely, identify unusual usage patterns, and make better-informed decisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We\u0027re also seeing significant innovation in heat pump and heat recovery chiller technologies,\u0022 he said. \u0022These systems can simultaneously provide heating and cooling while recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELetting Data Drive Decisions\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData and analytics have become essential tools for Utilities Management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy analyzing utility consumption and building performance, the team can identify trends, prioritize projects, and maximize the impact of investments.\u0026nbsp;\u0022Instead of relying on assumptions, we use real data to help prioritize projects and investments that will have the greatest impact,\u0022 Clonts said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmart meters, building automation systems, and automated alerts also allow the team to quickly detect equipment issues and respond before they become larger problems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Importance of Water Conservation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile energy often dominates sustainability conversations, Clonts believes water conservation deserves more attention.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta\u0027s history of drought challenges and the city\u0027s relatively high water and sewer costs make conservation efforts both environmentally and financially important. Residence halls are among the largest water users on campus outside of district energy plants, creating a significant opportunity for students to help make a difference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimple actions, such as taking shorter showers, reporting leaks, and being mindful of daily water use, can have a meaningful impact when multiplied across thousands of students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Water conservation is a sustainability effort where small individual actions can add up quickly,\u0022 Clonts said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Living Campus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor students interested in careers related to infrastructure, energy, engineering, or sustainability, Clonts encourages curiosity and hands-on learning.\u0026nbsp;\u0022Georgia Tech is a mini city,\u0022 he said. \u0022Every day you\u0027re surrounded by a diverse range of buildings, transportation networks, and utility infrastructure.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe believes that understanding how campus infrastructure works helps people recognize how much goes on behind the scenes and how individual actions contribute to a more sustainable campus.\u0026nbsp;Ultimately, that behind-the-scenes work is what motivates him and his team every day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022What many people don\u0027t see is all the planning, monitoring, maintenance, and coordination that happens every day to keep problems from occurring in the first place,\u0022 Clonts said. \u0022When everything is working as it should, people can focus on teaching, learning, research, and campus 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