Evergreen upgrades heating system with $1.3 million energy efficiency grant from PSE

Less than two weeks after students flocked back to campus, The Evergreen State College is upgrading its heating systems with an energy efficiency grant from Puget Sound Energy totaling more than $1.3 million, according to a news release.

Though the public liberal arts and sciences college only has about 2,000 students a semester, the campus stretches across 1,000 acres on Olympia’s west side. The energy grant is set to be used for major upgrades to the campus in hopes that it will save the college both energy and money.

“These energy and cost-saving measures are just one of the many ways that Evergreen supports environmental sustainability,” said Evergreen’s chief administrative officer William Ward in the news release. “The dollars saved from these projects will be reallocated to provide more programs, services and activities for our students now and into the future.”

The grant is funding an upgrade to Evergreen’s existing steam heating plant and steam distribution systems. Steam traps and condensate receiver sumps were replaced, and a new surge tank and a de-aeration tank steam vent heat recovery unit were installed as well.

According to the release, these upgrades are anticipated to save the college more than 141,000 therms of natural gas, which is the equivalent of heating 235 homes in a year.

A new heat recovery system and higher efficiency fans also were installed in the college’s Lab 1 building, which houses labs, classrooms and offices.

“When we can work with our customers like The Evergreen State College to save energy through our energy efficiency programs and grants, it’s a win-win,” said PSE Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Strategy Adrian Rodriguez.

“Partnering with our customers is key to address climate change since it’s an issue that can’t be tackled alone. Plus, our customers are able to meet their own sustainability goals while saving money in the process.”