How can building owners minimize first costs for small chilled-water systems?

Building owners can minimize first costs for small chilled-water systems by selecting equipment with lower upfront costs, designing systems with fewer components, and optimizing system sizing. For example, using a single chiller instead of multiple units can reduce first costs, as can selecting air-cooled chillers instead of water-cooled units. Additionally, designers can explore alternative materials, such as PVC piping instead of steel, to reduce material costs.