DPU receives conservation challenge grant

The Indiana Office of Energy Development has awarded DePauw University a Community Conservation Challenge (CCC) grant in the amount of $62,523.

It is one of six grants totaling more than $550,000 to support efforts that reduce energy consumption or displace the use of traditional energy sources.

DePauw's award will fund the installation of new LED lighting at Neal Fieldhouse, which is located within the Lilly Physical Education and Recreation Center; will provide for the installation of real-time energy usage devices on the DePauw campus and in the Greencastle community schools; and will help develop educational materials.

The CCC program offers financial assistance to non-residential entities for projects that reduce an organization's energy consumption or displaces the use of traditional energy sources. By diversifying energy sources and reducing energy consumption, grantees may reduce their exposure to fueling price shocks and improve their access to affordable, reliable energy.

"We were very pleased with the response to this year's CCC grant program," Tristan Vance, director of the Indiana Office of Energy Development, said. "This competitive grant program recognizes and encourages collaborative conservation efforts for energy consumption. These projects are innovative and creative, and they will provide tangible energy savings for Hoosiers."

Other recipients of 2015 CCC grants are:

-- Fort Wayne City Utilities, $100,000. Fort Wayne will be making lighting, structural and HVAC updates to Three Rivers Filtration Plant's lab building. Scope of work will have a 53 percent reduction in cooling requirements, as well as a 60 percent reduction in energy consumption.

-- Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light (HIPL), $100,000. HIPL will install solar arrays at All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis, St. Peters United Church of Christ in Carmel, Eastgate Christian Church in Indianapolis and Neighborhood Fellowship Church in Indianapolis.

-- Lake Court House Foundation, $100,000. The project will overhaul heating and cooling systems in order to save energy and stabilize the building's temperature levels. The project is estimated to save more than $25,000 annually in energy costs.

--- Tri-Creek School Corporation, $100,000. The corporation will add 205 solar panels (5,872 square feet) which will power 86 percent of the new transportation center's annual electricity use. The project is estimated to save $16,000 annually in energy costs.

-- University of Evansville, $90,580. The university will install solar, photovoltaic panels on the roof of a neighborhood center, as well as convert more than 1,000 florescent light bulbs to LED lighting. Estimated annual savings equal more than $14,500.