First University Heights Building Qualifies For $17,800 Rebate

JT Properties, LLC, owner of the first University Heights apartment building near Bemidji State University (BSU), received a $17,800 rebate for using Otter Tail Power Company’s Commercial Design Assistance (CDA) program during the building’s design and construction. The CDA program is an integrated process that puts energy efficiency at the forefront for new construction.

The four-story, 27,000-square-foot building is the first stage of a 15-year project on the 11-acre property that formerly housed Bemidji High School. It was designed and constructed in partnership with BSU for off-campus student housing and is 100 percent occupied with students.

The new energy-efficient building will save 35 percent in electrical demand and more than 30 percent in electricity consumption compared to minimum code standards. “The CDA program is a great way to compare strategies to determine the most effective energy efficiencies for a good return on investment,” said Otter Tail Power Company Energy Management Representative Ken Johnson. “With the rebate and an annual savings of $11,028 in energy costs, the payback on their investments is five years.”

Through the CDA program, JT Properties, LLC, staff worked with our company and The Weidt Group, a third-party consultant, to determine energy-efficient design. “Otter Tail Power Company’s staff, as well as The Weidt Group personnel, added valuable experience and supporting knowledge to our project,” said JT Properties, LLC, Owner John Peterson. “The CDA program offered organizational tools that expedited our meetings and gave our engineers and architect a huge advantage during the design phases.  Both companies proved to be a valued partner.”

Photo caption: JT Properties, LLC, Owner John Peterson accepts a $17,800 rebate check from Otter Tail Power Company Energy Management Representative Roger Garton in front of the new University Heights apartment building.