The city of Spicer, Minn. was being cost-conscious when city staff suggested to the City Council to move their administrative offices to unutilized space in the Dethlefs Center, a senior citizens building a few blocks away. City Administrator, Leslie Valiant, said that the south half of the Dethlefs Center was rarely used, and that by consolidating these two spaces the city would then be able to rent out the spaces formerly used as city offices.
Before the city could move its offices, some remodeling had to be done. Looking for other ways to save money, the city of Spicer applied for and received an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) that was distributed by the State of Minnesota’s Department of Commerce. The total amount of the grant was $15,898 with the city of Spicer providing equal matching funds.
The EECBG grant helped provide funding for three different energy efficiency components of the remodeling project, including a boiler replacement and two lighting projects. The first task the city completed was the replacement of an old boiler with a new one that is 90% efficient. Valiant said that the old boiler was very inefficient and that it was reaching the end of its lifespan. In addition to the energy cost savings achieved by upgrading their boiler, Valiant noted that the new office spaces have south-facing windows which will help keep the space temperate for a greater portion of the year. By being conscious of the building’s passive solar potential, the city is able to reduce the amount of time the boiler is operating. “Some days we have little need for heat,” said Valiant.
The city’s lighting projects began with retrofitting 21 fixtures throughout the building. By replacing their T12 lamps with T8 lamps, the city significantly reduced the energy they were using for lighting. A standard four bulb T12 lamp fixture uses 172 watts of energy. The same fixture retrofitted with T8 lamps and new electronic ballasts uses 112 watts of energy. This lighting project alone should result in a 35% reduction in energy usage.
In addition to the work going on inside the building, the city looked at ways they could save money and energy outside the building. They replaced four old light posts with two new posts and high pressure sodium light fixtures. The high pressure sodium lights provide an equal amount of light but use less than half the energy of the old ones.
The city also installed programmable thermostats, occupancy sensors, and removed a west-facing skylight in the atrium. By incorporating energy efficiency plans into their remodeling project, the city of Spicer hopes to see operating cost savings for years to come.
Other Local Government Energy Action Heating & Cooling Stories:
- Local Government HVAC & boiler updates: 50+ projects for energy efficiency
- Finlayson Community Center receives boiler, HVAC, and weatherization upgrades
- Discomfort and inefficiency remedied with Breckenridge City Hall boiler replacement
- Hopkins heats up their city’s savings with an energy efficient boiler
- Boilers, controls, and lighting renew Chisholm city buildings
- Under control: lighting and controls upgrades at New London-Spicer High School
About the Local Government Energy Action Series:
This year-long effort tells the stories of nearly 50 Minnesota municipalities, counties, and schools and the tangible results of their energy-saving efforts to inspire others to take their own actions.
Local Government Energy Action is brought to you by the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.
