Benjamin Franklin Middle School

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 2 × C65 ICHP Dual-Mode Capstone Microturbines controller
• Annual Generation: >1.0 Million kWh/year
• Energy Savings: ~$100,000 / year in reduced utility expenditures
• Thermal Integration: 860,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water for building space heating and domestic water


The Challenge
Educational institutions across Indiana faced unprecedented operational cost pressures following major utility filings by regional providers like NIPSCO. With base rate increases pushing electricity prices up significantly, public school districts faced steep increases in ongoing facility overhead. At Benjamin Franklin Middle School—a modern 823-student campus operating in a historic structure originally built in 1927—maintaining a comfortable, highly reliable learning environment required substantial continuous power and heat. School leadership needed a proven, low-emission solution to combat escalating utility tariffs, cut carbon emissions, and guarantee backup power without adding noisy mechanical infrastructure to active student learning spaces.


The Solution
Veristar Energy implemented an onsite 130 kW Combined Heat & Power system featuring two ultra-quiet, dual-mode C65 microturbines fully integrated into Benjamin Franklin Middle School’s energy plant.
• Onsite Baseload Power Generation: Produces over 1,000 MWh of continuous electricity annually, taking direct control of energy supply to offset high-cost grid purchases and protect school budgets from utility rate hikes.
• Thermal Exhaust Recovery: Recovers 860,000 BTU/hr of high-grade exhaust thermal energy in the form of hot water, directly feeding central building space heating loops and domestic hot water systems to slash primary natural gas consumption.
• Ultra-Quiet Acoustic Profile: Engineered to operate at sound levels under 65 decibels with virtually zero vibration, allowing seamless installation adjacent to active classrooms without disruptive mechanical noise.
• Dual-Mode Resiliency: Automatically transfers to standalone island mode during utility grid disruptions, delivering reliable emergency power to critical building loads and maintaining campus stability.

The Results
• $100,000 Annual Operating Savings: Directly reduces annual utility expenditures, protecting public education funding and freeing up operational budget for classroom instruction.
• Utility Tariff Protection: Establishes an independent, predictable cost structure that hedges the district against ongoing regional rate adjustments.
• Ultra-Clean Environmental Footprint: Employs low-emission microturbine technology with minimal maintenance overhead, eliminating traditional oil changes and liquid coolants typical of reciprocating engines.
• Educational & Sustainability Alignment: Modernizes historic facility infrastructure at Benjamin Franklin Middle School with advanced clean-energy technology, advancing the district’s sustainability objectives while ensuring stable, long-term operations.