Luther College's latest sustainability project--insulating steam pipes

Luther College's latest effort to reduce its carbon footprint is a Steam Distribution Insulation Project.

The project--which has won the approval of a Board of Regents committee--calls for the installation of insulation blankets on valves, expansion joints and condensate traps across campus, as well as the insulation of several thousand feet of condensate lines in the steam tunnels.

The insulation will reduce Luther's carbon footprint by preventing steam heat, produced by the combustion of fossil fuel in our heating plant, from escaping into the ground or air.

Luther College officials are estimating that by reducing the amount of fuel required to heat the campus, the project will reduce Luther's annual carbon footprint by 900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which represents 5.4 percent of the college's carbon footprint as of 2013.
 
The initial project costs are $307,000 with annual savings estimated at $91,200 per year, yielding a 3.4 year payback.

The project will be funded from the college's energy savings. Project implementation has already begun in order to enjoy the benefits of lower heating fuel consumption this heating season.

"We're pleased this project will make Luther more efficient, save the college nearly $100,000 per year, and help us reach our greenhouse gas reduction goals," says Luther Director of Facilities Jay Uthoff.