Four South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
students on the Hardrocker Sustainability Team have completed an energy audit
of the Rapid City/School Administration Center (CSAC).
RAPID CITY, SD (Feb. 20, 2018) –
Four South Dakota School of Mines &
Technology students on the Hardrocker Sustainability Team have completed an
energy audit of the Rapid City/School Administration Center (CSAC). The team worked in partnership with the Rapid
City Sustainability Committee through the SD Mines Engineering/Science Projects for Community Service
(EPICS) program. The Hardrocker Sustainability Team presented findings of
their energy performance review to the City
Council of Rapid City this week.
The Hardrocker Sustainability Team
includes SD Mines students Jamie Caffee, Sierra Doyle, Justin Nielson and Peter
Carvalho. These students spent the last five months conducting an energy
performance review of CSAC to understand the energy usage of building occupants
and to determine energy and cost savings opportunities. The team primarily studied
the use of lighting. They also examined the use of office equipment such as
printers and computers. The team conducted a brief examination of the buildings
heating and cooling HVAC system.
Team members found that replacing
current lighting with energy efficient LED bulbs and fixtures will result in a
large cost savings. The building contains approximate 2,000 light bulbs and fluorescent
tube fixtures. The team calculated the cost of labor and material for updating
the lighting in CSAC. They then calculated the annual savings from more
efficient lighting and added in a 50
percent rebate from Black Hills Energy for making the change. They found
LED lights would save the city approximately $9,400 per year in energy costs.
The team calculates a three-year return on investment with a total savings of
approximately $200,000 over the 16-year lifetime of the LED lights. The team
also estimates this change will result in a 75-ton reduction of annual CO2
emissions.
“This is a fine example of Mines’ students
having a positive impact on the community through our EPICS program. These
kinds of community projects give our students a chance to use their science and
engineering education in real world applications that matter,” says SD Mines
president Jim Rankin.
Team members also found a
significant energy savings in consolidating and networking office equipment
such as scanners and printers. The audit found that currently these items are
spread at a ratio of about six devices for every 10 people. ENERGY STAR guidelines recommend this
ratio to be one printer or scanner for every 10 people.
Team members conducted a brief look
and survey on the building’s HVAC system. They found that renovations to the
building over time did not always include moving thermostats. Some thermostats are
in closets or in other hard-to-reach areas. This is one factor leading to uneven
heating or cooling of the building. Team members found some office areas that
are uncomfortable to work in without supplemental space heaters or fans,
devices that drive up energy costs. They are recommending a more in-depth
review of the CSAC HVAC system in the future for potential upgrades and
renovations that could result in overall cost savings.
Hardrocker Sustainability Team
members further point out that the Rapid City School System is planning a move
out of CSAC to a new location. This move will require some building renovation
and city officials can maximize construction cost savings if they conduct the
LED lighting and other upgrades at this same time.
“For me, the most exciting thing
about this project is that it opens the door to future relationships between
Rapid City and SD Mines. There are still so many opportunities to improve; this
project is a good start because it demonstrates Rapid City's devotion to
sustainability,” says Jamie Caffee, a senior mechanical engineering at SD
Mines, and the Hardrocker Sustainability Team spokesperson. “It is our hope that
through continued partnership sustainable building design practices will become
standard in our community”
Jennifer Benning, Ph.D., associate
professor of civil and environmental engineering at SD Mines serves as faculty
advisor. The Hardrocker Sustainability Team will continue their work at CSAC and
in other areas of the community in the coming years.