DeLaSalle High School

Minneapolis

“Our use of solar energy,

energy waste reduction,

and water use reduction are

an effort in which all

Islanders take responsibility

for a more sustainable

school, more sustainable

community, and more

sustainable society.”

Nicholas Grue

Executive Director of

Operations

eLaSalle High School, the private high school on Nicollet Island, may be

best known for its Catholic, LaSallian tradition and focus on educating

diverse students, but it is quickly adding sustainability to its renown. As

DeLaSalle ‘prepares students for life, work, and service to society,’ part

of the school’s mission, it involves students in sustainability activities and seeks to

make the physical earning environment productive, energy efficient, and affordable

for all students. Energy benchmarking has helped measure progress toward these

laudable goals.

Established in 1900 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, DeLaSalle High School

has been a house of education for more than a century. Its focus on energy began

in 2010 during the rise in solar energy popularity. That year, the Board of Trustees

and facilities team decided to install 130 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels producing

19 kw of electricity on the school’s roof. Tracking PV electricity production gave

them the first taste of energy benchmarking, and so when developing a campus-

wide Master Plan the following year, a focal point became thinking holistically

about energy. “Sustainability is in our strategic plan for the next 116 years,” says

Nicholas Grue, facilities manager at DeLaSalle, “Our goal is to thrive and be relevant

in the private school market” – that includes being aware of energy savings

opportunities. A strong commitment to sustainability drives a collaborative effort

between staff, faculty, students, and alumni that has uncovered opportunities from

efficient lighting to a new boiler system to water reductions. When it came time to

do whole building benchmarking for the City’s ordinance, the school surpassed

criteria for ENERGY STAR certification. The building earned certification in 2015.

PERFORMANCE SPOTLIGHT

BUILDING NAME—BUILDING STATS

Address 1 De La Salle Drive

Year Built 1928 (renovations and additions in 1958, 1974, 2002)

Size 156,000 square feet

Building Use High school

Energy legacy continued on back a

D

2015 ENERGY STAR Score - 78

2015 Site Energy Use Intensity– 65.7 kBtu/sqft/yr

BENCHMARKING:

BUILDING A LEGACY OF RESPONSIBLE ENERGY USE

Questions about Minneapolis benchmarking policy?

Contact the City at 612-673-3867 or e-mail MPLSEnergyStar@Minneapolismn.gov

More info available at: www.minneapolisenergybenchmarking.org

GET STARTED

SAVING

TODAY:

DID YOU KNOW? Owners of buildings 50,000 square feet or

larger are required to benchmark their property’s energy use

using the EPA’s free Energy Star Portfolio Manager. You can see a

map of these buildings and their metrics at: arcg.is/2aTGwsK

tudent engagement plays an important role in energy conservation at DeLaSalle. Course offerings like Principles of Engineering and Environmental Science provide opportunities to explore sustainability topics. An extra-curricular “Green Team” allows students to take on waste,

water, and energy projects. For example, students get the school’s solar panel production data, analyze it, and share it with the student body. “PV helps us learn about the school’s clean energy impact, ” said Green Team member Elisabeth Andre. The team has also concentrated on reducing material energy use by promoting composting and recycling. The student-led group secured a Hennepin County grant for an impressive campus-wide initiative, which includes eliminating Styrofoam and installing compost containers throughout the school. The team benchmarks its waste initiative by conducting waste sorts to understand the school’s performance.

Armed with energy and water use data, teachers and facilities staff of the Sustainability Team meet every third week to prioritize improvements and consider student engagement opportunities. Most recently, they have toiled over a major reconstruction that involves lighting upgrades and and right-sizing HVAC systems. Their work provides a example of sustainability leadership to students and empowers the next generation of leaders to use energy responsibly.

New boiler installed in 2015 replaced a 1952 vintage steam

boiler and doubled the school’s heating efficiency

Significant fluorescent lighting upgrades in classrooms,

washrooms, hallways, meeting rooms, and the gymnasium

Light sensors and skylights further reduce energy use

Building automation system with front end computer to

efficiently control most HVAC equipment

Upgrades to variable frequency drive pumps limit runtime

Let the Energy Legacy Continue:

S

MAJOR PROJECTS

Top: Green Team student Elisabeth Andre and teacher coordinator Tim

Lynch pose next to their club’s display case. Middle: Snow melts off of the

school’s 19 KW roof-top solar panels. Bottom: New occupancy sensors in

the gym and locker rooms make sure lights turn off when rooms are empty.