Highlighting Bethel College

In 2009, Indiana received a little more than $14 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds through the U.S. Department of Energy.  In turn, OED offered grants to non-entitlement communities, small businesses, non-profits, health care facilities, and higher education institutions.  These recipients -- more than 130 of them! -- are scheduled to wrap up their projects by the end of December, and we plan to highlight their good work on our blog.

A few weeks ago, an OED staff member had the opportunity to visit Bethel College in Mishawaka.  Bethel College received a $80,337.50 grant from our office; the college was required to provide a 50% cost share.  With those funds, the college made a significant number of lighting retrofits in Goodman Gymnasium, Bowen Library, and its Physical Plant building.  An ION Enterprise metering system, a small box that will enable real-time tracking and trending of electrical consumption in seven buildings, was also installed.

In addition to all of those improvements, Bethel College also focused its efforts on Shupe Residential Hall, a freshman girls' dorm.  Two 78% efficient boilers were removed and replaced with 94% efficient units, and a 60% efficient hot water boiler was replaced with a 98% efficient unit.  With the inefficient units in place, officials frequently noticed open dorm windows in cold weather, which obviously doesn't keep energy costs low!

Take a look at the sleek, new units:

Congratulations to Bethel College for a job well done!