A Madison, South Dakota based energy company says it has built the most energy efficient building in the state. Heartland Consumers Power District recently finished construction of a new headquarters building. They designed it to meet platinum standards of the United States Green Building council: the highest level.
KDLT'S Tom Hanson explains. Heartland's CEO says the new building is already paying off.
"I can tell you we are in a building twice the size of the one we left, and we have real time energy usage in the early months here, indicating that our power energy consumption has declined by 50 percent," said Heartland CEO, Mike McDowell.
There's a sense of pride when Heartland CEO Mike McDowell talks about the non profit utilities new headquarters on the outskirts of Madison.
They outgrew their old building, and since they promote energy efficiency to their customers, communication manager Ann Hyland says they figured they'd better practice what they peach.
"I think one of the most interesting features would be the ceiling panels are actually made out of reused bleacher seats out of a gym in Nebraska," said Ann Hyland, Heartland Communications Manager.
The building features geo thermal heating, eight inches of insulation, roof-mounted solar panels, low flow electrical fixtures, a computer system monitors the building, when the last person leaves it knows to turn off the lights, and lower the temperature in the winter and raise it it the summer.
"We certainly hope that it will set the tone in South Dakota so that we can prove that making an extra investment in efficiency really does pay off. You're going to see those savings and re coop those savings in a matter of time, so we're hoping other people will follow our lead and do the same," said Hyland.
"The other thing that I'm very proud is that it's SD designed and SD built," said McDowell.
