Ben Franklin Middle School

Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso, Indiana, a key part of the Valparaiso Community Schools district, sought an advanced energy solution. As a large educational facility serving over 800 students daily, the school aimed to enhance its operational efficiency, significantly reduce utility costs, and align with the district’s broader commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Reliable power was essential to support a consistent learning environment across its modernized campus.

Vergent implemented a 130 kW onsite generation system at Ben Franklin Middle School. This Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system features two Capstone C65 ICHP microturbines, specifically chosen for their exceptionally quiet operation (less than 65 decibels) and ultra-clean emissions profile, making them ideal for integration within an active school setting. The system will be seamlessly integrated into the school’s existing energy infrastructure to provide continuous power and heat.

This advanced CHP system provides Ben Franklin Middle School with significant cost savings on its energy consumption and enhanced energy resilience, ensuring stable power for all educational operations and critical systems. By generating highly efficient, clean power on-site, the system directly supports Valparaiso Community Schools’ ambitious sustainability goals, enabling reduced greenhouse gas emissions and freeing up valuable operational funds that can be reinvested directly into enhancing the student learning experience.