Kirkwood uses power cycling system to curb cooling costs

CEDAR RAPIDS - At a record peak, Alliant Energy customers used more than 3,700 megawatts of power at 6 p.m. Monday, topping the previous record set in August 2003.

Saving on utility bills is not easy when the weather is downright dangerous.

“We really couldn't do much, so we would just go around paying that extra energy bill each month,” said Kirkwood Community College Facilities Executive Director Tom Kaldenberg.

With a 1.6 million-square-foot facility that has numerous classrooms with computers running, overhead projectors, and televisions, the campus has a high electrical demand. The college's energy costs are around $80,000 a month.

But with the help of an automated power saving system from Alliant, Kirkwood was able to cut its usage up to 15 percent.

“We've got an automated system that goes around and shuts off the air conditioning for various buildings and rooms and shuts it down for 10 minutes and then turns it back on,” Kaldenberg said.

When the air conditioner and lights shut off throughout campus on a rotating schedule, Kirkwood saves $9,000 a month.

Home savings

You can save at home, too. More than 48,000 people participate in Alliant Energy's appliance cycling program, a voluntary program in which they earn an $8-a-month credit.

“A contractor comes out and they install a remote switch on the outside of your air conditioner,” Alliant Energy spokesman Justin Foss said. “Instead of it running all the time, it will run 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off,” Foss said.

Kirkwood sends out daily reminders about energy conservation. Maintenance says shutting down five laptops can cool an entire classroom. The same is true at home. Unplugging coffee pots and drawing shades are common ways to stay cool without watching your energy costs soar.

“That saves a lot of energy for the customers and for us,” Foss said.