MADISON, S.D. – Heartland Consumers Power District broke ground Friday on their new headquarters building in Madison’s Lakeview Industrial Park. The 9,400 square foot building will be the first LEED Certified Platinum building in the state of South Dakota.

 

Public Utilities Commission Chairman Dusty Johnson provided the keynote address. Heartland has partnered with the PUC in South Dakota Energy Smart, a statewide initiative designed to foster the development, implementation and promotion of energy efficiency programs.

 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED was created to reduce the environmental impacts of the built environment and promotes a whole-building approach to sustainable building design.

Caption: Groundbreaking was held Friday, April 10, 2009 for Heartland Consumers Power District’s new headquarters building, the first LEED Certified Platinum building in South Dakota. Pictured left to right: Madison City Commissioner Karen Lembke, Randy Parry of the Rural Learning Center in Howard, Jeff Hazard of Koch Hazard Architects, Lake Area Improvement Corporation Director Dwaine Chapel, Heartland General Manager Mike McDowell, Heartland Board President Dan O’Connor, South Dakota Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard, PUC Chairman Dusty Johnson, Madison Mayor Gene Hexom, Project Manager Jason Crain, Madison Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Gross and Mike Bates of Henry Carlson Company.

“We are extremely excited about our new headquarters building. Not only will it meet Heartland’s needs for many years, it will have a positive impact on the environment,” said Heartland General Manager Mike McDowell. “It will also provide a cleaner, healthier working environment for our staff and reaffirms Heartland’s commitment to environmentally sound practices and energy efficiency.”

 

Heartland’s facility, designed by Koch Hazard Architects, will be over 46% more efficient than a similar standard building. Roof-mounted solar panels will provide approximately 3.5% of the building’s total energy needs. At least 35% of the building’s power will be Green-E certified, purchased from the city of Madison. Heartland will supply the Green-E power to Madison from the Wessington Springs Wind Farm. Window placement is designed to optimize day lighting and occupancy sensors will be used throughout the building. The heating ventilation and air conditioning system is a closed loop geothermal system and each room will be separately zoned for individual comfort.

 

Low flow and flush fixtures will be utilized with sensors and the building will save approximately 33% of water over a standard building of the same size. No irrigation system will be required due to the use of native plantings in the landscape design. Sustainable materials, many purchased regionally, include polished concrete flooring, precast concrete walls, metal panel siding, SIPS panels and a standing seam steel roof. More than 50% of the building’s materials will be made from recycled and reused materials, Forestry Stewardship Council certified wood and rapidly renewable materials.

 

“It has been great to work with the visionaries at Heartland. To have the first expected LEED Platinum building in South Dakota under construction is very exciting for us,” said Jeff Hazard, Senior Principal for Koch Hazard. “The bottom line is this building will use less energy and be easier on the environment than most buildings built today. It will be a constant reminder of Heartland’s commitment to reducing energy consumption.”

 

LEED recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. A series of points/credits are available within the five LEED areas and building projects can earn those credits by incorporating green design and construction techniques. Depending on the number of credits earned, certification is obtained at Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum levels. Sixty five percent of the credits in the LEED certification system directly reduce the CO2 footprint of the building.

 

“As a public power utility, we educate customers on the benefits of energy efficiency and sustainable practices,” said McDowell. “Now we will be able to demonstrate those benefits. It is my hope that the green theme of our new building will eventually become the norm for all buildings in South Dakota.”

 

Approximately 45 companies, all hired regionally, will be involved in construction of the facility with Henry Carlson Company of Sioux Falls serving as the construction manager. Jason Crain of Construction Management Professionals was hired as project manager to assist Heartland staff manage the project from design to completion. The building is scheduled to be completed in December of 2009. Heartland also signed a purchase agreement Friday with South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems who will take over their existing facility.

About Heartland

Heartland Consumers Power District is a public power utility created in 1969 by the state of South Dakota. Heartland provides low-cost, reliable power as well as energy services and community development programs to communities and state agencies in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Heartland has a diverse resource portfolio including base-load coal and nuclear energy, hydropower, wind and community-based diesel peaking units.