The Iowa State University chapter of National Electrical Contracting Association (NECA) recently placed fifth nationally in The NECA Green Energy Challenge.
NECA members Jeremy Bruecken, Kathleen Miller, Mathew Santee, Jon Schrobilgen, Megan Vollstedt and Alex Weiss formed the Cyclone Energy team to complete an energy audit and proposal for Helser Hall on campus. To compete in the NECA Green Energy Challege, a student team like Cyclone Energy needed to identify a dormitory facility on their campus in need of energy efficiency improvements.
Cyclone Energy conducted an energy audit of the Helser Hall’s power and lighting systems and created a preliminary design of an energy retrofit for power and/or lighting systems. The areas included in the project consisted of a lighting retrofit, energy use analysis, photovoltaic implementation, and schematic estimate and scheduling. To start the students inspected existing lighting fixtures, windows, ventilation, and heating. The updated structures included in the plan consisted of higher efficiency bulbs, window replacements, and photovoltaic implementation. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) analysis was performed to judge current conditions of the building’s structure as well as the new improvements to the building. The proposal also included electricity and heating usage in Helser Hall prior to the updates.
The Iowa State University student chapter of NECA provides an opportunity for students to meet members of the electrical contracting industry and gain knowledge of the industry outside the classroom. To get involved contact Iowa State NECA chapter president Jeremy Bruecken at brub@iastate.edu.
PHOTO: Iowa State University chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association earned fourth place in the national NECA Green Energy Challenge. Pictured left to right are advisor CCEE Lecturer Beth Hartmann, construction engineering senior Jon Schrobilgen, electrical engineering senior Kossi Sessou, electrical engineering senior Jeremy Bruecken, electrical engineering senior Alex Weiss, business administration graduate student Matt Santee, English senior Megan Vollstedt and horticulture senior Kathleen Miller.