Colorado School of Mines and McKinstry Launch Energy Awareness and Savings Program

Three-year powerED program and campus energy retrofits will improve student engagement while saving an expected $451,500 annually in utility and operating costs.

GOLDEN, Colo. (Aug. 21, 2018) – Colorado School of Mines (Mines) has partnered with McKinstry to implement an energy awareness and savings program on campus called powerED. The three-year program launched this week with the start of the Fall 2018 semester.

McKinstry’s powerED program uses a highly collaborative approach with three key elements of focus: people, process and performance. The “people” component educates building occupants about the importance of energy efficiency and resource conservation; the “process” component identifies and implements low- and no-cost operational and maintenance strategies to reduce energy use; and the “performance” component tracks, measures, analyzes and quantifies energy savings and carbon reduction. Those three components are used to increase staff and student awareness and engagement, identify energy savings opportunities, communicate performance results and promote success.

Mines is launching powerED as part of a larger building and operational improvement effort that began earlier this year. Most of the work focuses on energy efficiency retrofits and other campus improvement projects, including upgrading select lighting to LEDs, adding dimming controls to a substantial number of classrooms to improve projector use, upgrading chilled water systems and improving system controls. The project also includes future work to add solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy to campus. These improvements will improve energy efficiency, increase system reliability and improve the learning and working environment.

“Colorado School of Mines is committed to delivering every advantage possible to help our students excel in and out of the classroom,” said Gary Bowersock, Associate Vice President of Operations for Mines. “The powerED program integrates energy and sustainability into campus life, engaging students and staff to make a meaningful impact. At the same time, the energy retrofits we’ve identified are increasing energy performance across campus while reducing our carbon footprint.”

“Colorado School of Mines is known for its outstanding energy and environmental curriculum, making it a perfect partner for McKinstry’s powerED program,” said Leslie Larocque, Regional Vice President for McKinstry. “The program focuses on driving behavior change by joining efficient buildings with informed, committed occupants. Mines delivers a perfect environment for impact.”

The McKinstry energy performance contract is expected to save Mines nearly $451,500 annually through reduced utility and operational costs. These savings will cover the $4.8 million project over a 10.5-year payback period. McKinstry also helped Mines secure $95,000 in utility rebates to offset initial costs.

About Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines is a public university focused on science and engineering, dedicated to educating and inspiring students, advancing knowledge, and innovating to address the great challenges society faces today—particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission has expanded to meet the needs of industry and society, producing distinctive graduates and revolutionary innovations, and becoming a world leader in advancing sustainable use of the Earth’s resources.

About McKinstry

McKinstry is a national full-service, design-build-operate-and-maintain (DBOM) firm specializing in consulting, construction, energy and facility services. The firm’s innovative, integrated delivery methodology provides clients with a single point of accountability that drives waste and redundancy out of the design/build process. McKinstry advocates collaborative, sustainable solutions designed to ensure occupant comfort, improve systems efficiency, reduce facility operational costs, and optimize profitability “For The Life of Your Building.”

About powerED

McKinstry’s powerED program is a systematic behavioral and awareness program that encourages staff and students to learn about energy efficiency measures and how behavioral changes can lower utility costs, save energy, decrease carbon emissions, and create a healthier environment. The engagement campaign within the powerED program, named People.Power.Planet, uses a website and other activities to help staff and students to commit to, learn about, engage with and compete to reduce energy consumption across campus.

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