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Carroll College

Small private college takes big steps to improve facilities without cost increases

At a Glance

• $3.9 million — Estimated total energy and maintenance cost savings under a 15-year performance contract with Johnson Controls to upgrade lighting, boilers, and building controls.
• $200,000 — Estimated annual utility cost reduction as a result of energy efficiency improvements.
• $40,000 — Projected annual reduction of water and sewer charges as a result of water conservation measures.

The challenge: Improve aging buildings and infrastructure without raising tuition

Founded in 1909, Carroll College is a small, private Catholic institution with a history of quality education and winning football teams. With a century of tradition comes aging infrastructure, and many of the College’s buildings as well as much of its equipment needed substantial improvement. Carroll College’s difficulties were compounded by the fact that it is located in Helena, Montana where winters are harsh and water can be in short supply due to periodic drought conditions. The College’s building efficiency improvements would need to cover an unreliable heating system and outdated plumbing. However, there was no capital budget to address replacement, and costs were rising. Carroll College leaders needed a way to make their campus more modern, efficient, comfortable, and sustainable while keeping tuition affordable.

The solution: Retrofits, renovations, and upgrades producing savings to offset much-needed improvements

Carroll College partnered with Johnson Controls in a performance contract designed to reduce annual utility costs by 20 percent with minimal impact on the environment, and make adding new equipment – including a reliable power supply – affordable. The project included replacing boilers – some as dated as fifty years old – and installing new building controls to help the building operate efficiently.

Johnson Controls also upgraded lighting throughout the campus, replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) lamps and replacing metal halide bulbs in the College’s Physical Education Center with high-output T-5 fluorescent fixtures to provide brighter lighting while saving energy. In addition, with new zone switches – instead of one switch for all the lights – the Center now only has to illuminate spaces that are actually in use.

The College also had a back-up propane fuel system installed to reduce peak demand for natural gas, which represented 60 percent of Carroll’s utility costs. As a result, Carroll College has not only reduced natural gas consumption and achieved lower energy costs, but it now qualifies for a lower rate from its gas utility company.

Water-saving toilets, urinals, and shower valves were installed to conserve water and reduce their impact on the environment.

Finally, in keeping with its concern for the environment, Carroll College is making use of training provided to the facilities staff by Johnson Controls on the operation of energy-efficient equipment, and the staff in turn is making students and faculty more aware of what they can do to keep Carroll College green.

Results and benefits

Carroll College had been spending $1 million a year on utility costs. Now it is projected to reduce its annual utility bill by $200,000 and realize $3.9 million in total savings over the life of the 15-year performance contract with Johnson Controls – as a result of energy savings and reduced maintenance costs. These figures include a savings of over $40,000 a year on water and sewer charges, due to water conservation measures. Students, faculty and staff have become more involved in making the College more efficient and sustainable by shutting off lights and computers when not in use and taking other simple but effective actions.

Learn more

Johnson Controls can make your college or university campus work more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably. Contact us to learn how, or try our operational and energy savings calculator today.