How a retro Amiga still runs the heat and air conditioning in Michigan Schools

The remarkable Commodore Amiga 2000 has been running continuously for decades, managing the heating and air conditioning systems across 19 schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools district. In 2015, voters approved a $175 million bond proposal, which included plans to replace the aging Amiga system. Despite the bond passing, the Amiga 2000 was still operational years later. A new $19.9 million bond was proposed for upgrades, but it faced strong opposition from the Grand Rapids Taxpayers Association, which launched a vigorous campaign against the countywide school tax on the May 2, 2017 ballot. The Amiga 2000 has shown impressive durability, controlling HVAC systems 24/7 for so long in 19 schools. Originally installed in the 80s using funds from an energy bond, the system communicates via a 1,200 baud modem and wireless radio to coordinate across multiple buildings, despite sometimes interfering with maintenance workers’ walkie-talkies. While there have been some hardware failures requiring rare eBay parts and occasional programming support, the system has remained reliable. Replacing the Amiga system has been delayed mostly due to the high estimated cost—up to $2 million—and the prioritization of other projects over HVAC upgrades.

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