Montana State University
Summary
Over the past 15 years, the physical footprint of Montana State University has grown by nearly 1.5 million square feet in new and renovated buildings, and the student body has grown by 37% percent, an increase of 4,600 students.
“The last 10 years of projects are really significant,” said Megan James, engineering and utilities director. “We remain focused on projects that address the core mission of Facilities Management and also provide a foundation for the Sustainability Framework.”
Among the key pieces being put in place are the campus energy districts, which reduce energy use by allowing the buildings in the districts to help heat and cool each other. The first district was built in 2011, starting with a central heat pump plant with the ability to accept geothermal energy, that serves Leon Johnson Hall and three adjacent buildings, including Jabs Hall, home for MSU’s business college.
During Jabs Hall’s construction, workers drilled 52 geothermal boreholes to store unused energy extracted by the building’s mechanical systems. The stored energy is tapped as needed to deliver heating and cooling to what is now called the Leon Johnson Energy District, whose system has reduced MSU’s energy costs by an average of $130,000 per year.
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