The Water Research Foundation (WRF), with funding support from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), invites proposals for research under RFP 5372, aimed at advancing non-evaporative cooling technologies in the commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) sector. This initiative responds to the pressing need to conserve water resources in the Colorado River Basin, where long-term aridification and reduced inflows have severely impacted regional water availability. As evaporative cooling is the second largest consumptive water use in Southern Nevada, identifying alternatives is crucial to sustaining growth and ensuring water security.
The project seeks to identify and assess the viability of promising non-evaporative cooling technologies capable of handling large-scale cooling demands in facilities like resorts, stadiums, hospitals, office complexes, industrial sites, and data centers. The scope includes evaluating the capital and operational costs, energy and water consumption, electrical requirements, noise levels, system lifespans, physical footprints, and scalability to cooling loads exceeding 2,500 tons. Researchers are also expected to investigate ways to offset increased energy usage, such as integrating ground-source heat pumps or energy storage solutions.
The selected research team will develop at least three case studies per facility type, documenting successful non-evaporative systems globally, with at least one U.S.-based example per category. Additionally, each category must include at least one case study on hybrid or adiabatic systems. These case studies must provide detailed operational insights including cooling capacity, water use, energy demands, maintenance needs, implementation barriers, and lessons learned. If adequate non-evaporative examples are not available, adiabatic/hybrid systems may substitute.
The proposal must include a comparative model/worksheet that illustrates energy and water use trade-offs between non-evaporative, traditional evaporative, and hybrid cooling systems. Deliverables also include a WRF-standard research report, an executive summary aimed at non-technical audiences (due by January 15, 2027), a webcast, and the model/worksheet. The total project duration is expected to be 15 months from the contract start date.
Proposals must be submitted through WRF’s online system by 3:00 pm Mountain Time on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Applicants must contribute at least 33% of the project budget through cost-share or in-kind support. Proposals are welcome from U.S. and non-U.S. entities, including educational institutions, research bodies, governmental agencies, consultants, and for-profit organizations. Questions may be directed to Sydney Samples at ssamples@waterrf.org or 571.384.2108, or for submission-related inquiries, Caroline Bruck at cbruck@waterrf.org or 303.347.6118.
Emphasize scalability to >2500 tons, include U.S. case studies, compare technologies comprehensively.
