How a Connecticut Theater Put Energy Efficiency in the Spotlight | Article

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit theater in Hartford, Connecticut, has been a mainstay for over 90 years, serving more than 30 million people and hosting more than 20,000 performances over that time. As the state’s largest and oldest performing arts center, The Bushnell is always seeking ways to reduce its utility costs and environmental impact. Encompassing 181,000 square feet, The Bushnell includes two large halls, a 908-seat theater, a 2,800-seat theater, and a reception area. Figuring out effective ways to heat and cool these spaces is an ongoing challenge as the theater seeks to save money while keeping visitors and performers comfortable.

A look inside Mortensen Hall at The Bushnell, built in 1928. Credit: The Bushnell

“We have implemented multiple energy efficiency actions throughout the years as we expanded and grew our core arts mission,” David Fay, president, and chief executive officer of The Bushnell, said. “We are always exploring ways to increase energy efficiency in our current equipment. Improving our energy efficiency is a continuous talking point with our donors, patrons, and friends, and they appreciate our efforts.”

Keeping warm in the New England winter

In 2001, The Bushnell added the 908-seat Belding Theater, which cost $43 million. The new theater was built with energy efficiency measures such as LED lighting and an energy-efficient heating and cooling (HVAC) system. This led Fay and his team to think about adding more energy efficiency measures to their older building.

A decade later, in 2012, The Bushnell replaced its old boiler with a new, more advanced, energy-efficient three-way steam system. The 40-year-old boiler had been part of The Bushnell since 1974, providing heat during New England's famously cold winters. Their new gas-fired heater is 92 percent efficient, in contrast to the old boiler, which was 42 percent efficient and had no backup system. This was risky, as the boiler could have failed during performances with the theater at capacity. In addition, the boiler could only either be turned on or off instead of set to a specific temperature, which wasted energy and money. It was so obsolete that replacement parts had to be found online, cannibalized from other boilers.

Because it was nearing the end of its useful lifecycle, it was time for a replacement. But the work was stalled because of the high costs of a new HVAC system and the lack of capital funds to pay for it. Then, Fay heard of the C-PACE program (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy), which the Connecticut legislature had recently passed. The Connecticut C-PACE program is administered by the Connecticut Green Bank, and other capital providers also lend through the program.

Using the 100 percent upfront cost coverage and low-cost, long-term funding options available through the C-PACE program, The Bushnell was able to finance about half of the $650,000 replacement price tag. The project's financial package combined a $250,000 Clean Energy Business Solution grant (from the State of Connecticut), a $16,000 rebate from the theater's electric utility (Eversource), and a $384,016 C-PACE loan to be paid back over 20 years. Boiler replacement is an eligible measure under the C-PACE, in addition to high-efficiency lighting, HVAC upgrades, and on-site renewable energy. The Bushnell repays the loan over time through an assessment included in its water bill. In total, The Bushnell estimates that it is saving $60,000 annually in energy costs and will save $1.2 million over the lifetime of the new steam boilers.

How The Bushnell Paid for Its Boiler Replacement
State Grant	$250,000
Utility Rebate	$16,000
C-PACE Financing	$384,000
Total Project Cost	$650,000

Another major project included in the C-PACE financing involved replacing the hot water pipes throughout the building to consolidate both theaters into one water and steam system. The Bushnell removed all the hot water loop connections to the municipal heating systems that provided hot water to the Belding Theater and installed a new heat exchanger. The three-section boiler can now grab steam, condense it in other parts of the building, and bring it back to the boilers to create more steam and send it to both theaters. This means greater redundancy, resulting in energy savings.

“The C-PACE program is a great success and a great way to monetize the energy savings resulting from replacing the old boiler with more energy-efficient equipment,” Fay said. “We are 10 years into a 20-year loan and saving more than we are paying for the new heating system. The delta between the cost and the financing is paid off through the energy savings accrued in the project's lifetime.”

Project Savings
Annual Energy Savings	$60,000
Lifetime Energy Savings	$1.2 million
Annual Fuel Consumption Savings	703,248 kBTU*
Carbon Emissions Avoided Annually	37.2 metric tons

*1 kBTU = 1,000 British thermal units

Everyone at The Bushnell loves the new heating system, which is more efficient than the previous one and eliminates the hassle of going to eBay to seek replacement pieces for the old boiler. The new system offers greater comfort for theater guests while creating energy savings.

Energy savings are stage front

Replacing the boiler is one piece of the puzzle for The Bushnell when it comes to reducing operating costs through energy efficiency upgrades. After the big boiler project, The Bushnell continued to invest in energy efficiency projects to lower energy and maintenance costs. Recent projects have included installing LED energy-efficient lighting throughout the center and installing new air handling units and heat pumps. Additionally, The Bushnell replaced the roof and added insulation to reduce water leakage and help the buildings withstand New England winters.

The Bushnell covered the upfront costs of these energy renovation projects with internal funds and donations from major donors. They also took advantage of the Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program (NAA) available for nonprofits. The NAA allows businesses to receive a 100 percent tax credit on donations to nonprofits that go toward energy efficiency conservation programs. Because local businesses receive a full tax credit when donating to The Bushnell for its energy efficiency projects, they tend to contribute larger amounts than they would have without the tax credit. In essence, The Bushnell created a revolving fund: they use these donations to pay for energy efficiency projects, releasing savings that can be used to replenish the fund. These projects are useful for attracting donors and patrons, as many seek to support nonprofits that invest in energy conservation and other environmental measures.

“We know the energy cost per unit annually of all our energy equipment as we track it through the monthly energy bills,” Fay said. “We would have been bankrupt if not for all the energy efficiency work and boiler upgrades and the resulting accumulated savings. Annual energy expenses are about 10 percent, or $400,000, of our $4 million annual building budget, including interest debt to build the building and depreciation. Reducing energy costs means we can devote more resources to our performances and avoid dipping into our cash reserves.”

Looking ahead

The next big project on tap for The Bushnell is to replace its old and outdated water chiller system. During the hot summer months, The Bushnell taps into the City of Hartford's municipal water chiller loop system to cool all the offices and entertainment spaces. However, there is no backup system, which represents a risk should the system fail when the theater is full and air conditioning is needed. The Bushnell is exploring to replace this year the water chiller with a heat pump system at a $1 million cost, adding a backup in the roof, and using C-PACE loans to finance the project.

Author: Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo