Paulding-Putnam conserves energy

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

PAULDING — Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative (PPE) not only wants its customers to save energy, it provided an example of how to be energy efficient when it purchased and renovated its present facility on McDonald Pike.

Going from a 22,000-square-foot building on North Williams Street (U.S. 127) to its present 71,500 square feet facility was a process that included both the normal construction work, plus an additional layer of energy efficiency, energy education and “green” technology.

The site includes a residential-size wind turbine that generates 10 kilowatts of energy, as well as solar panels that generate another 5 KW of electricity. While the turbine and solar panels aren’t enough on their own to provide energy for the new facility, they do fulfill their stated function, which is to provide educational opportunities for Paulding-Putnam customers.

“The addition of a wind turbine and solar panels will allow the co-op to educate the community and members on the importance of energy efficiency and the impact that alternative power will have on their electric bill,” said Facility Committee Chairman Karl Koenig.

Green initiatives used in the building include:

• A bio-retention system to control storm water runoff (100 percent of runoff returned to the natural water table)
• Low-volume irrigation system to conserve water use
• Roof color and type will reduce heat-island effect on roof

• Adaptive reuse of the existing building (81 percent of final building square footage was existing building)
• Reduced construction waste-landfill deposits through recycling of existing building materials (concrete, asphalt, etc.)
• Cardboard packaging for new furniture and equipment recycled
• Highly insulated wall systems (ICF, insulated concrete form that reduce heat loss, increase thermal comfort and consumer less energy)
• A mechanical system designed to recapture heat from building ventilation exhaust to reduce energy use)
• Non-smoking building for users’ health and comfort
• Electric vehicle charging stations in the warehouse for PPE’s own electric vehicle and in the parking lot for visitors
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) products (sealants, adhesives, paints, etc.) used throughout to improve indoor air quality
• Indirect- high-efficiency lighting for reduced energy consumption and user comfort
• Automatic controls for lighting, air-conditioning and heating reduces costs by controlling when not in use (all systems computer controlled)
• Day lighting (nearly 80 percent of all offices spaces have windows to the exterior
• A geothermal mechanical system consisting of 28 500-foot deep wells, a wind turbine that produces useable energy and a solar array that also produces useable energy.

George Carter, CO and general manager of Paulding-Putnam Electric, said that, while relocating the office impacts customers, the move was well planned to minimize the financial cost of the project.

“This building project, like any capital improvement, will only have a minor impact on future member rates,” Carter said. “We are a financially stable organization and we have strategically planned for this growth.”

PPE, a member-owned, non-profit electric cooperative serving approximately 13,000 customers in Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Defiance counties in Ohio and Allen and Adams counties in Indiana, exists to serve its members, said Dr. John Saxton, president of the Board of Trustees.

“Paulding Putnam Electric believes it’s important to maintain a local presence in Paulding County,” Saxton said. “We look forward to a long future together.”

Peter Niagu, PPE’s energy advisor, said he is extremely excited about the opportunity for members to have such a powerful tool at their disposal on renewable energy inquiries. “We feel the wind turbine and solar panels are a tremendous asset to our members for real-time energy statistics and an understanding of the pros and cons of wind and solar generation.”

Being able to store vehicles and equipment inside the building is also a money saver and also increases the ability to maintain consumables such as wire and other equipment.