Two construction project designs recognized for saving big on energy
Waterloo Central Middle School and Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences receive 2024 Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design awards
DES MOINES, Iowa – (September 26, 2024) – A Waterloo middle school will reduce its energy use by a remarkable two-thirds, compared to baseline projections, while a university in West Des Moines will reduce energy use at its new campus by more than half. In both cases, construction project design plans were key to those energy savings.
The Waterloo Central Middle School and Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences have both been named 2024 Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design Award recipients. The program recognizes outstanding efforts in reducing energy use. The awards were announced Monday at the 2024 American Institute of Architects Iowa Convention in Des Moines.
Candidates are selected from projects whose designers participated in MidAmerican’s Commercial New Construction program. The program provides energy design assistance and energy efficiency incentives to commercial customers for new construction, additions and renovation projects within MidAmerican’s service area. Projects must have been completed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
The Waterloo Central Middle School and Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences have both been named 2024 Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design Award recipients. The program recognizes outstanding efforts in reducing energy use. The awards were announced Monday at the 2024 American Institute of Architects Iowa Convention in Des Moines.
Candidates are selected from projects whose designers participated in MidAmerican’s Commercial New Construction program. The program provides energy design assistance and energy efficiency incentives to commercial customers for new construction, additions and renovation projects within MidAmerican’s service area. Projects must have been completed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
Waterloo Central Middle School & Waterloo Career Center projects
The Waterloo Community School District incorporated two renovation projects completed in January, including the Central Middle School remodeling and expansion of the neighboring Waterloo Career Center.
The district completely remodeled academic areas in the 200,000 square-foot masonry building, which was built in 1974. The renovation dramatically increased the amount of daylight through new windows and skylights, added a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system, installed insulation that exceeds code requirements and includes a high-efficiency LED lighting system.
The Waterloo Career Center expansion design increased daylight throughout the building and takes advantage of energy efficiency gained through the geothermal system that serves the campus.
The project results in a 67% annual energy savings as compared to baseline projections.
INVISION Architecture and Modus Engineering assisted with the project.
The Waterloo Community School District incorporated two renovation projects completed in January, including the Central Middle School remodeling and expansion of the neighboring Waterloo Career Center.
The district completely remodeled academic areas in the 200,000 square-foot masonry building, which was built in 1974. The renovation dramatically increased the amount of daylight through new windows and skylights, added a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system, installed insulation that exceeds code requirements and includes a high-efficiency LED lighting system.
The Waterloo Career Center expansion design increased daylight throughout the building and takes advantage of energy efficiency gained through the geothermal system that serves the campus.
The project results in a 67% annual energy savings as compared to baseline projections.
INVISION Architecture and Modus Engineering assisted with the project.
DMU campus
DMU built a new 88-acre campus in West Des Moines, comprised of four buildings connected by elevated pathways, which it dedicated earlier this month. Project design features include maximizing daylight exposure while also reducing solar heat gain through passive shading strategies. A campus central plant geothermal heating and cooling system with heat recovery technology, along with an energy efficient LED lighting system, help save energy.
DMU achieved LEED Silver Certification and is expected to achieve WELL Building Gold Certification, making it the only campus project in the world to achieve both certifications.
The project results in a 54% annual energy savings as compared to baseline projections.
RDG Planning & Design, IMEG Corporation and the Formation Group assisted with the project.
DMU built a new 88-acre campus in West Des Moines, comprised of four buildings connected by elevated pathways, which it dedicated earlier this month. Project design features include maximizing daylight exposure while also reducing solar heat gain through passive shading strategies. A campus central plant geothermal heating and cooling system with heat recovery technology, along with an energy efficient LED lighting system, help save energy.
DMU achieved LEED Silver Certification and is expected to achieve WELL Building Gold Certification, making it the only campus project in the world to achieve both certifications.
The project results in a 54% annual energy savings as compared to baseline projections.
RDG Planning & Design, IMEG Corporation and the Formation Group assisted with the project.
Commercial New Construction program 25th anniversary
This year, MidAmerican celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Commercial New Construction program. The program for commercial and multi-family buildings provides complimentary energy design assistance and financial incentives to help make implementing energy-efficient strategies more affordable.
During the past 25 years, the program has provided more than $100 million in incentives to more than 1,500 projects, reduced energy use that is equivalent to 50 structures the size of the Empire State Building and lowered the annual carbon dioxide equivalent by 589,000 metric tons.
MidAmerican provides additional program and enrollment information on its website: https://www.midamericanenergy.com/cnc.
MidAmerican thanks the Iowa architectural and engineering communities for their continued dedication to energy efficiency and participation in the Commercial New Construction program.
This year, MidAmerican celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Commercial New Construction program. The program for commercial and multi-family buildings provides complimentary energy design assistance and financial incentives to help make implementing energy-efficient strategies more affordable.
During the past 25 years, the program has provided more than $100 million in incentives to more than 1,500 projects, reduced energy use that is equivalent to 50 structures the size of the Empire State Building and lowered the annual carbon dioxide equivalent by 589,000 metric tons.
MidAmerican provides additional program and enrollment information on its website: https://www.midamericanenergy.com/cnc.
MidAmerican thanks the Iowa architectural and engineering communities for their continued dedication to energy efficiency and participation in the Commercial New Construction program.
About MidAmerican Energy
MidAmerican Energy, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serves 820,000 electric customers in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota, and 797,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available at midamericanenergy.com and company social media channels.
MidAmerican Energy, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serves 820,000 electric customers in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota, and 797,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available at midamericanenergy.com and company social media channels.