Alliant Energy: Clear Creek Amana School District invests in energy-efficiency

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Sep 18, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- The new Clear Creek Amana High School provides state-of-the-art educational space with new classrooms, a new auditorium and sports park. Included in the construction of this high quality school is a ground source heat pump with heat recovery to increase energy efficiency of the system. To recognize the school district for its commitment to energy conservation, Interstate Power and Light, an Alliant Energy company (Alliant Energy) presented the Clear Creek Amana Community School District with an incentive check of $147,893.

Before getting started on the school construction project, the district invited Alliant Energy into the design process. The building went through an energy-efficient evaluation process provided by the Commercial New Construction (CNC) program offered through Alliant Energy. The planning team evaluated options available to reduce energy consumption and heating and cooling costs to reflect the school's commitment to being 'green.'

By partnering with Alliant Energy while the school was being designed, a variety of strategies were considered. Strategies implemented to increase efficiency include occupancy sensors in the classrooms, cafeteria and common areas, paired with day lighting and window glazing. Energy efficient insulation was used in the roofs and walls. These strategies were modeled prior to construction so that the school could see anticipated energy savings, incremental costs, and utility incentive amounts.

Alliant Energy's CNC program helped decrease expected electricity consumption by nearly 60 percent, saving more than 1,303,067 kWh of electricity each year. This results in the school saving an estimated $64,000 in annual energy costs and earning nearly $148,000 in energy efficiency rebates.

'We evaluated several potential energy conservation strategies Clear Creek Amana Community School District could consider in building the new school,' said Jennifer Horning-Strategic Account Manager, Alliant Energy. 'Clear Creek Amana leadership was willing to commit to energy-efficiency on the front end allowing us to achieve much greater fiscal and environmental results.'

In addition to lowering its energy bill and receiving a cash incentive from Alliant Energy, Clear Creek Amana Community School District is also doing its part to reduce its environmental impact. By choosing to make the building more efficient than required by the State of Iowa building code, the energy efficiency measures will avoid more than 936 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This is equivalent to removing about 171 passenger vehicles from Iowa roadways.

'Alliant Energy is one of few service providers that rewards and cherishes commitments and initiatives for energy efficiency,' said Paula Vincent-Superintendent, Clear Creek Amana Community School District. "Because of the incentives Alliant Energy included as a part of their program, we will save the district money, reduce CO2 emissions and have a positive impact on the environment."

The 117,000 square feet high school features 30 classrooms, including four science labs and specialized classrooms for art, technology and instructional enrichment. The instrumental and vocal music classrooms include small group practice areas and the media center includes conference space. There's also a competition size gymnasium, plus a separate mat room and fitness area.

The Commercial New Construction program is available to Alliant Energy's retail electric and/or natural gas customers in Iowa. To qualify, new commercial buildings and building renovation projects must be located within Alliant Energy's Iowa service territory. For more information, visit www.alliantenergy.com/newconstruction or call 1-866-ALLIANT.

CONTACT: Nancy Craig, Alliant Energy Tel: +1 319 786 4788