Hallberg Engineering, Inc./CLASS 5 Energy
1750 Commerce Court
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
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HISTORY:
Owned by HP Properties, this more than 10,100-square-foot office building in White Bear Lake, Minnesota was constructed in 1998. Its tenants, Hallberg Engineering, Inc. and CLASS 5 Energy, specialize in engineering and energy efficiency.
Established in 1979, Hallberg Engineering, Inc. (HEI) is a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm. They offer mechanical, electrical and technology systems design, along with building analysis and commissioning. Their services also include system upgrades and retrofits to improve indoor air quality and energy conservation. HEI?s Energy Services Group provides such services as energy modeling, energy studies, and energy tax deductions analysis.
HEI?s president, Joe Hallberg, created the successful Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) Program in 2002 to help organizations save energy and money by changing the behavior of building occupants. In 2008, Hallberg established CLASS 5 Energy (CLASS 5) as a separate corporate entity dedicated to the creation and distribution of energy behavior programs, including SEE. In 2010, CLASS 5 launched an energy behavior program for use in offices and commercial buildings, higher education, local government, and places of worship.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH THE CLASS 5 PLAN:
HEI first earned the ENERGY STAR in 2003, but recently re-energized sustainability efforts in 2010 when it began implementing the CLASS 5 Plan in the White Bear Lake office. The Plan provides behavior-based steps, strategies, and tools that engage people and inspire change to save energy within their building. Plan implementation is led by an Energy Efficiency Coordinator, along with an Energy (Green) Team consisting of upper management, facility managers, project managers, and other employees. Besides performing simple tasks like shutting off lights and equipment, opening and closing blinds, and keeping vents clear from clutter, the Energy Team also identifies key operational strategies to implement. To date, the Energy Team has employed strategies such as de-lamping some of its already efficient T-8 fluorescents and replacing its fluorescent lobby lighting, HID exterior security lighting, and HID parking lot lighting with more efficient LED fixtures. ?Green Zone? signage placed throughout the office highlights and explains these energy-saving changes. Electronics and other appliances were added to the automatic shutdown procedure. Meters have been installed on the Building Automation System which transmits real-time gas and electric data to the reception area?s LED display to communicate energy usage to staff and guests. Also, the building has been energy modeled by HEI in order to track and/or predict future energy consumption. Awareness materials such as posters, tip sheets, and ?Green Zone? signage provide visual reminders to staff members about why saving energy is important and what they can do to support the energy-saving effort. Quarterly energy savings reports are published internally, reviewed by the Energy Team, and posted to the Employee Energy Board located in the office break-room so that all staff members can see what a difference their efforts make.
RESULTS:
By following the CLASS 5 Plan in their workplace, HEI/CLASS 5 has improved its total energy usage by 10 percent to date and achieved an ENERGY STAR energy performance score of 87. Company-wide commitment is what allows this program to succeed. It is not one person doing 100 things, but rather many people doing one or two things, every day, consistently, with dedication and commitment toward a single goal. The long-term goal is to achieve 30 percent energy reduction.
Communications:
External communications include a press release to local newspapers announcing ENERGY STAR building certification, posts to Twitter and Facebook including daily energy saving tips, and The Energy Efficient Behavior Blog that provides insights on behavior-based solutions for energy efficiency.
Testimonial:
?Hallberg Engineering was already operating quite energy-efficiently, so I was very pleased to see that we were able to decrease energy use even further through implementation of the CLASS 5 Plan. This guided energy behavior program has been instrumental to our ability to not only save money, but also to serve as role models for others in the workplace, at home, and throughout our community. We?ve been pleasantly surprised that such seemingly-insignificant changes in how we use energy can produce such significant results.?
Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by HP Properties, Inc. or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.
Service Provider:
Schools for Energy Efficiency
Building Owner:*
HP Properties, Inc.
Property Manager:*
HP Properties, Inc.
Year(s) Labeled (Rating):
2002 (79)
2012 (83)
Facility Type: Office
Total Floorspace: 10125 sf
Year Constructed: 1998
Contract Type: None
Technologies Used:
| Stage 1-Recommissioning |
| Stage 2-Lighting |
| Stage 5-Heating and Cooling Plant |
| Other Technologies/Strategies |