Modernizing a Historic Campus for Smarter Energy Performance
Challenge
Founded in 1877, Thayer Academy is an independent college-preparatory school in Braintree, Massachusetts. As campus demands evolved, the Academy sought ways to improve energy efficiency, strengthen sustainability efforts, and enhance facility performance across its historic campus.
Thayer needed to balance modernization with day-to-day operations. Energy-intensive systems, aging infrastructure, and classroom schedules created challenges that required thoughtful planning. Without strategic upgrades, the campus continued to waste energy, incur higher operating costs, and miss opportunities to advance long-term sustainability goals.
Solution
Working collaboratively with campus stakeholders, Mantis implemented a customized facility improvement strategy to support operational efficiency and occupant comfort.
The approach focused on three key steps:
- Evaluate opportunities for energy and facility performance improvements.
- Deploy custom lighting, HVAC, and building management system upgrades.
- Introduce intelligent controls that automatically respond to occupancy and building needs.
The solution included smart lighting controls that sensed occupancy in classrooms and hallways, reducing unnecessary energy use.
Results
By modernizing critical building systems, Thayer Academy improved energy performance, reduced carbon emissions, and advanced its sustainability objectives without disrupting campus operations. The project also helped the Academy avoid ongoing costs associated with inefficient systems while generating meaningful financial returns.
Performance Outcomes
- $115,500 in total annual savings
- 630,000 kWh reduced annually
- $52,000 in project incentives captured
- 446 MT CO₂e avoided annually
- 2.4-year project payback achieved