Washtenaw Community College

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 2 × C65 Grid Connect Capstone Microturbines managed via BAS controls
• Annual Generation: >1,000 MWh/year of clean, grid-synchronized electricity
• Thermal Output: 860,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water and 50 tons of absorption chilling
• Financial Impact: ~$100,000 / year in annual utility cost reductions


The Challenge
Serving over 20,000 students across a 291-acre campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Washtenaw Community College (WCC) operates 14 major instructional and auxiliary buildings, including a LEED Gold-certified Health & Fitness Center with a saltwater lap pool. Managing high electricity demand alongside substantial thermal loads for space heating, cooling, and pool water required a sustainable energy solution. The college needed to reduce utility expenditures while aligning with institutional environmental goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions.


The Solution
Veristar Energy deployed a 130 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system featuring two Capstone C65 microturbines integrated into the college's Building Automation System (BAS) to maximize overall fuel efficiency.
• On-Site Baseload Power: Produces over 1,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, offsetting expensive utility grid purchases across campus facilities.
• Dual Thermal & Cooling Recovery: Captures 860,000 BTU/hr of exhaust waste heat to supply campus hydronic heating and pool loops, while integrating absorption chilling to produce 50 tons of chilled water.
• Dual Energy Output from Single Fuel: Maximizes natural gas utilization by simultaneously driving power generation, building heating, and facility cooling from a single fuel source.
• Quiet & Low-Emission Operation: Features oil-free air-bearing technology with a single moving part, delivering whisper-quiet, ultra-low emission performance suitable for an academic environment.


The Results
• $100,000 Annual Savings: Delivers significant recurring utility savings, freeing up institutional funds for academic programs and student resources.
• Measurable Carbon Footprint Reduction: Cuts overall campus greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil-fuel grid power with highly efficient combined power, heating, and cooling.
• Year-Round Energy Efficiency: Supplies continuous heating during winter months and chilled water cooling during summer months for optimal seasonal versatility.
• Proven Long-Term Asset: Operates as a cornerstone of WCC's sustainable infrastructure strategy since its 2014 commissioning.


“The whole beauty of this system is that you gain from one energy source, in this case the natural gas, and receive the output of two different energy sources. Additionally, our carbon footprint is reduced by the fact that we’re not using other power sources which use fossil fuels.”
Damon Flowers, Vice President of Facilities
Washtenaw Community College