LYNDON, Kansas — In a move that does justice to the historic Osage County Courthouse and other county buildings, community leaders have completed upgrades that are expected to reduce the county’s environmental impact and increase the productivity and comfort of county employees. The project provided economic development benefits by creating jobs for Osage County and using financing from local banks.

The courthouse upgrades replaced aging and failing infrastructure systems with those that are more efficient, less expensive to operate and maintain, and are more environmentally responsible.

Infrastructure improvements were also completed on county health, road and bridge, and sheriff facilities. The county will gain an anticipated $23,000 in annual utility, operations and maintenance savings from the improvements along with a rebate of nearly $245,000 from the Kansas State Historical Tax Rebate program.

Built in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 24,900 square foot, three-story courthouse depended on original steam piping and radiators that had reached the end of their useful life. Leakage problems threatened the ability of the outdated system to heat the building.

The project is funded with a performance contract, which is a model enabled by Kansas statute and advocated by Kansas officials, that allows building owners to use future energy and operational savings to finance infrastructure improvement projects. It is an option for funding energy saving improvements in buildings that provides measurable business results. By managing and optimizing energy use, counties can leverage operational savings to support strategic business objectives.

County Receives Energy Leadership Award

In recognition of the importance of administrators’ commitment to efficient and sustainable energy usage, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, the county will receive the “Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Local Government Award.”

The awards presentation will be at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 14 in the Commissioner’s Chambers, second floor, Osage County Courthouse, 717 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, Kan.

“Historic buildings like the Osage County Courthouse are irreplaceable,” said Carl Meyer, Osage county commissioner. “These improvements preserve a valuable county landmark for future generations and make the county more environmentally responsible, all while creating a more comfortable environment for those who live and work in the building today,” said Meyer.

Customized Solutions Meet County Needs

Prior to selecting energy conservation measures, government leaders conducted a building audit of the county facilities involved to identify which solutions would best meet their needs. Upgrades at the courthouse include installing four high efficiency rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to replace less effective and less efficient window air conditioning units and outdated steam boiler radiator systems.

At the courthouse, officials replaced the existing roof with a new solar reflective roof and additional insulation. Augmenting windows with customized internal storm glazing optimized the building envelope’s barrier to air and water infiltration and temperature variations.

In addition, they installed high efficiency lighting to save energy and reduce utility costs. They implemented low-flow water fixtures to conserve water. Other improvements included installing a centralized control system to maximize comfort and efficiency, and completing an electrical service upgrade to serve the modern electrical demands of the courthouse.

Improvements completed at the county health, road and bridge, and sheriff facilities included the installation of high efficiency lighting systems, low-flow fixtures for water conservation and a control system to maximize comfort and efficiency.