"RJ" wrote in message
...

It occurs to me that
every motel I've ever stayed at ( 20 200 units )
always uses a "window unit" for cooling.

Seems like it would be more economical
to have one central unit, and circulate chilled water
to heat exchanger in the rooms.

Anyone have any insight here ?

Maintaining a chiller is no simple task for a small to medium motel. You
have differing occupancy rates, thus big swings in load demand. Then you
have the piping to deal with, booster pumps, and, if the chiller goes down
you have the complete motel with no AC instead of a room or two.

I doubt the economics works well.