Dordt University shows stewardship in action with BES rebates

When Dordt University leaders plan upgrades across their Sioux Center, Iowa, campus, energy efficiency is part of the strategy.

For more than a decade, the university has taken a practical approach to improving how its buildings use energy, investing in upgrades that reduce consumption and reflect the institution’s commitment to stewardship.

That approach recently delivered results through the Bright Energy Solutions (BES) rebate program offered locally through Sioux Center Municipal Utilities and powered by Missouri River Energy Services (MRES). After completing a series of efficiency upgrades, Dordt received a $38,135 rebate, recognizing improvements that will lower overall electrical demand on campus.

The project included high-efficiency LED lighting upgrades as well as improvements to the heating and cooling system within the Dordt Commons remodel and addition. A major component of the project was the installation of ice storage technology, which produces ice overnight when electricity demand is lower and uses it during peak hours to cool buildings. By shifting energy use away from high-demand periods, the system helps reduce strain on the electric grid while lowering operating costs.

For Dordt, those kinds of improvements reflect a long-standing philosophy.

“We’ve been purposeful in our building design, planning of equipment and maintenance,” said Josh Dorhout, Dordt’s director of Facilities and Services. “We pursue logical and practical energy-efficient solutions rather than chasing ideas that aren’t proven. It’s about maintaining a balanced approach.”

That mindset is closely connected to the university’s mission. As a Christian institution, Dordt emphasizes stewardship of resources as part of its broader commitment to serving its students and community.

“It’s in our DNA as Christians to be stewards of all things, including energy and other resources,” Dorhout said. “If we can demonstrate the importance of making sensible choices that reduce our consumption, those actions can spread throughout the community.”

Rather than setting rigid targets for renewable or carbon-free energy, Dordt focuses on practical improvements whenever opportunities arise. Some projects involve replacing individual fixtures or equipment, while others, like the ice storage system, require larger investments that deliver long-term efficiency gains.

“BES rebates encourage energy efficiency and help reduce peak demand for our whole community. Ultimately, that reduces the need to build new electric generation and helps keep rates lower for everyone in Sioux Center.”

—Kris Pieper, building official for Sioux Center Municipal Utilities

That practical, project-by-project approach has also made Dordt a valuable partner for Sioux Center Municipal Utilities.

“BES rebates encourage energy efficiency and help reduce peak demand for our whole community,” said Kris Pieper, building official for Sioux Center. “Ultimately, that reduces the need to build new electric generation and helps keep rates lower for everyone in Sioux Center.”

The collaboration between the university and the municipal utility has grown over time. Dordt regularly works with Sioux Center’s building officials and BES representatives when planning campus additions and remodels, ensuring that efficiency opportunities are considered early in the
design process.

The results add up. Since 2010, Sioux Center Municipal Utilities has returned more than $300,000 in BES rebates to Dordt for projects that have collectively saved more than 1,000 kilowatts of demand and more than 2.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Those savings benefit more than just the campus. Energy efficiency reduces peak demand on the overall system, helping stabilize costs and maintain reliable service for all customers served by MRES member utilities.

As Sioux Center continues promoting BES locally, Dordt University’s ongoing investments show how collaboration between community institutions and municipal utilities can create meaningful benefits, and not just for the campus, but for the entire community.