Microgrid Solar and The Doe Run Company Partner to Provide Solar and Energy Upgrades at Herculaneum High School

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) December 21, 2013

In collaboration with The Doe Run Company (Doe Run), St. Louis-based Microgrid Solar is proud to be a partner in providing solar and energy efficiency upgrades at Herculaneum High School (HHS). Starting with conducting an energy audit of the high school campus in July 2012, Microgrid recommended the following projects for Doe Run to fund as part of several environmental investments they are making in the community:

75 kilowatts (kW) of solar capacity, including 25 kW roof-top arrays on the gymnasium and fine arts building, a 13 kW array with a battery storage component on the main building, and 6 kW solar canopies on the football stadium grandstand and cafeteria courtyard.

Interior lighting upgrades to replace all T12 fluorescent lamps with new, energy-efficient T8 lamps, including new fixtures where feasible. In addition, metal halide lights in the industrial arts shop and gymnasium were replaced with T5 high-output fluorescent fixtures, and incandescent exit signs were replaced with LED fixtures.

Exterior lighting upgrades, including the replacement of metal halide fixtures on the building walls and parking lots with new, high-efficiency LED fixtures. These new fixtures will not only provide significant energy savings, but will also save maintenance costs because the lamps have a 15-year life versus a 3 to 5-year life for the metal halide lamps and ballasts.

HVAC upgrades, including a new Variable Air Volume air handler in the D-Wing of the main building, and a new, high-efficiency boiler to heat the building.

With the completion of the project, the lighting and HVAC upgrades are projected to save the school more than $44,000 annually. The energy savings equivalencies will equal nearly 4 million pounds of CO2 avoided over the equipments lifetime, which is equivalent to 3.75 million miles not driven, or the planting of 280 acres of trees.

Steve ORourke, Vice President of Consulting Services at Microgrid Solar said, It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with Doe Run and Herculaneum High School on this project. This is a great educational opportunity and an excellent demonstration of how to combine renewable energy and energy efficiency to save the school over $2 million over the projected lifetime.

Doe Run funded the entire project, so HHS had no costs associated with the upgrades. Managing the entire project, Microgrid was responsible for the design, structural engineering, procurement of equipment, and construction of the arrays, as well as coordinating the engineers and contractors to design and install the equipment. The solar arrays will be maintained and monitored by Microgrid over a 20-year period using a prepaid lease funded by Doe Run.

We believe in providing our communities with support that brings a lasting benefit, said Gary Hughes, general manager of Doe Runs Metals Division. We appreciate all that Microgrid Solar has done to deliver not only long-term cost savings to Herculaneum High School, but also give students an opportunity to learn about renewable energy and potential careers in a growing field.

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Microgrid Solar and The Doe Run Company Partner to Provide Solar and Energy Upgrades at Herculaneum High School