North Carolina Zoo Sonora Desert Dome

Renovations to the Sonora Desert Dome at the Asheboro Zoo replaced the aging 200 ton chillers and two air handlers.  New modular chillers provide much quieter and more efficient operation.  The new air handlers were fitted with energy saving “heat pipes” that greatly reduce the energy required to dehumidify outside air from a humid, southeastern climate to provide warm, dry, desert conditions.