Energy Savings Save Costs

From Frank Mazzola, Director, Physical Plant:

Keeping energy costs down is on everyone’s mind, especially during the winter. Keene State is no different. So, when our electric utility suggested that the College take some simple steps to lower its electricity bills by reducing our demand charges, we listened.

Thanks to our allies at Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), KSC’s Physical Plant launched a project this month to improve its campuswide power factor. This project will coordinate the installation of heavy duty, soy oil capacitors in a selection of campus buildings.

To get started, Diana Duffy, coordinator of energy services, brought together the expertise of KSC’s electrical team with PSNH’s expert on power factor control; Bob Harrison of Independent Capacitors Corp. Together, the group is developing a plan to install capacitors on campus. Doing so will improve the College electric bill by improving our overall power factor. A power factor near to 100% costs less money than one that’s just slightly lower. KSC plans to bring its power factor to closer to 98%, up from its current average of 92.7%. This power factor project will begin this spring, with expected completion this summer.

At the conclusion of the capacitor installations, Keene State will see an immediate improvement in its campus-wide power factor, and expects to save over $15,000 a year on its electricity costs. The project cost is approximately $9,500, which results in a payback of less than one year.