Power Profile: MAC looks to the future with energy efficiency upgrades

A rural Missouri college nearing its 100th anniversary is working hard to provide students a quality, affordable, and accessible education well into its second century of operation. A complete energy efficiency upgrade is helping to achieve that goal.

Located in Park Hills, Missouri, Mineral Area College (MAC) was founded in 1922. In the spring, the college completed a renovation of its campus — from lighting to building weatherization. 

“With everything that we have done and as efficient as we are running, it is helping the students because we are giving them a brighter and cleaner environment,” said Rodney Resinger, General Services director at Mineral Area College.

The upgrades help to provide a safer, more welcoming environment for students to learn,” added Lori Crump, Mineral Area College’s chief financial officer. 

The college increased energy efficiency in its facilities by adding LED lighting upgrades and energy-efficient fixture retrofits, building envelope weatherization, upgrading controls to smart thermostats, installing high-efficiency HVAC units, a new cooling tower and chiller, and making other improvements. The projects saved a total of 1,293,243 kWh since September 2019. That's enough electricity to power more than 100 homes.

But it’s not just saving energy, it is saving the college money and, ideally, reducing maintenance work. That will enable the college to focus on promoting student success. 

“The investment in energy efficiency helps us maintain our buildings, reducing expenses which can help us continue to promote student success now and in the future,” said Danielle Basler, Director of College Communications. 

Originally founded as Flat River Junior College, the institution was renamed in 1965 and plans to be around for decades to come. 

“We want to be around another 100 years,” Basler said. “We want to be here to continue serving our community.”

“We are Mineral Area Community College, we are community-based,” Basler’s colleague Lori Crump said. “We have a very supportive community. We have a lot of alumni that are still in the area and many who work here as well.  I think that speaks very highly of the organization and its continuity.”