Reno County is located in Central Kansas and has a population of over 64,000, and is the third largest county in Kansas by area. Its county seat and largest city is Hutchinson.

Energy Solutions Professionals (ESP) completed an Investment Grade Audit that identified energy-saving improvements at multiple buildings, including the courthouse, law enforcement center, community corrections, jail annex, landfill office, landfill shop, health department and youth services. The initial workshops with the county uncovered that there was an opportunity for significant savings by addressing redundant equipment at the courthouse and the planned expansion of the law enforcement center. Both buildings used a similar two pipe system with boilers, chillers and pumps to heat and cool the interior spaces.

Since the two buildings were close to one another, ESP proposed sizing the equipment to serve both buildings and combining the plants to reduce material and labor expenses. The solution resulted in two chillers being placed in the Law Enforcement Center, and four boilers in the Courthouse that worked together as a combined plant. Other improvements included new lighting, water efficiency improvements, vending machine controls, upgrades to the building controls, rooftop unit replacements, and the replacement of several split systems.

The project will save the county over $178,600 annually on utility and operating costs. The upgrades have created a better environment for community members and staff. The comprehensive upgrades that ESP made will not only optimize the performance of the facilities but also reduce long-term operational costs and support the county’s sustainability goals.