IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN, BUT THE ALTERNATIVE IS WORSE

People in the Aberdeen area are finding ways to add eco-friendly practices to help the community. W

hen the world observes the 52nd Earth Day on April 22, there are a lot of good things to think about, including things here in Aberdeen. Let’s take a partial look at ways the Hub City has worked to improve the environment.

Air Quality

Air pollution seemed out of control when Earth Day started, but U.S. air quality has improved thanks to cleaner emissions. Midstates Printing in Aberdeen recently installed a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) to clean up what owner/ CEO Matt Feickert called a “burning crayon” smell in the neighborhood created when the ovens that dry printed ink release solvents into their exhaust. While the plant was within emissions standards, the solvents had a low level of toxicity. Enter the $400,000 RTO in November 2021. The 50,000-pound machine subjects the ovens’ exhaust to 1,600-degree heat and breaks the compounds down to be emitted harmlessly— and odorlessly. Matt noted, “We did it to be a good neighbor as much as for environmental reasons.”

 At the Midstates Printing plant, Paul Hopkins, vice president of Manufacturing, stands by the regenerative thermal oxidizer, which cleans the exhaust of ovens drying printing ink. providers incentivize improvements. In describing Northern Electric Cooperative’s energy efficiency focus, Communications Director Ben Dunsmoor started with beneficial electrification, a concept that promotes using more electricity because electric generation is becoming increasingly cleaner. For Northern Electric, almost 85% of its electricity production was coal-based in 2000, compared to 41% coal and over 42% renewable sources in 2020. “So the more electric yard tools, appliances like water heaters and ranges, electric heating equipment, and electric vehicles (EV) people use,” Ben said, “the more it will benefit the environment.”

Northern Electric customer Dustin McNeil, a farmer near Stratford, recently bought a Tesla. “We planned to buy another SUV,” he said, “then we realized that if you don’t need the size of an SUV, you can look at something smaller.” He worked out the math and figured their EV will “save $1,400 a year on gas and on oil.” He also touted the efficiencies. “In an EV, 75-80% of the electricity is going to moving the car, compared to 35% of gas in an internal combustion engine.” He concluded pragmatically, “I’m not a tree-hugging hippie, but even if you don’t believe in climate change, you have to know oil is finite, and maybe we need to save it for more important needs.”

Key issues are where and when people will charge their EVs. Northern Electric CEO Char Hager said, “We know that the EV market is expected to grow. We are keeping our eye on public charging, at-home charging, and programs that would encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles during off-peak times of the day.”

Carrots, Not Sticks

Incentives are a common way for utilities to encourage efficiencies. Through load management, Northern Electric works with East River Electric Power Cooperative, its transmission provider, to control participating members’ electrical equipment, powering down when demand is high. East River estimates load management has saved members $260 million in wholesale power costs since 1985.

On farms, load management runs equipment only when it’s needed. For example, Ben explained the system integrates with third party bin management technology “to ensure farmers are using electricity as efficiently as possible when they are drying and storing grain.” In homes, he added, “We also have 3,226 water heaters enrolled in our load management system out of a total of 4,727 members throughout

Even if you don’t believe in climate change, you have to know oil is finite.” –Dustin McNeil

With a similar mindset, Aberdeen’s Presentation Sisters view environmental sustainability—caring for creation—an article of faith. To increase their use of renewable energy, in 2010, they installed a wind turbine and 125 solar panels on their convent grounds. Their artesian well also serves as a geothermal source to heat the garage near the turbine. Ahead of their time, when they asked the City for permission to install the turbine, there was no relevant ordinance, and the City Council had to create one. More than most, probably, the Sisters made the changes out of social justice concerns, primarily with the environment in mind rather than cost savings. Still, Sister Kathleen Bierne said they were told the turbine would pay off in twelve years, and “it’s been worth it.”

Efficiencies

From a general perspective, most practices that result in energy cost savings also include more efficient, therefore less, energy use. Much efficiency comes when energy

 The Presentation Sisters installed a wind turbine in 2010 at their former convent.  An electric vehicle charging station at

TownePlace Suites here in Aberdeen.

 Aberdeen Public Schools continuously seeks to maximize energy efficiency, such as through getting high efficiency models when replacing boilers (top image), air handling units (bottom image), and lighting (top image, pg. 30). It also aims for environmental sustainability through measures such as using only electric hand dryers (middle image, pg. 30) to reduce paper waste.

Brown and Spink counties. So about 68% of our membership has electric water heaters under load management.”

Northern Electric also offers Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), which members can buy (at one REC per one megawatt hour) to support renewable energy. Businesses like RECs, Ben said. “If they participate in the REC program, they can promote their products as being made with ‘100% renewable energy.’”

Pipestone Management, a Minnesota company that operates farmer-owned Elm Valley Farms, a Groton area hog facility, utilizes RECs. Its president, Barry Kerkaert, said a Pipestone sustainability goal is to have 50% of its energy derive from renewable sources. “We have explored numerous options to reach this goal and feel that purchasing RECs is the most viable option for sow farms at this time,” he said. Consumers and retailers expect sustainable practices, he added, so Pipestone sets up its farms to compete and succeed long-term. Elm Valley is 100% renewable because Pipestone purchases RECs equivalent to its energy usage.

The big box stores also make sustainability a goal. Mariel Messier, Senior Manager of Walmart Global Responsibility Communications said the retail giant has zero emissions and 100% renewable energy goals, with hundreds of renewable energy projects around the world, including South Dakota. Sourcing from wind energy projects like the Crocker Wind Farm in Clark County and Triple H Project in Hyde County, she said, “brings us closer to our renewable goals while providing clean energy and economic benefits to the regions we do business with.” Mariel added, “Energy efficiency projects at our Aberdeen store help us reduce kWh usage.”

Educated Energy

Schools are some of the bigger users of energy. Travis Sichmeller of Sichmeller Engineering has analyzed utility bills for many schools and found need for improvement, which offers a lesson in evaluating energy efficiency changes. “You need to know where you’re spending money, in particular knowing your unit cost from the utility and usage,” he noted. “Energy bills paint a picture of where you’re using energy, spending money, and where you should invest in capital improvements.” In one school utility bill, “we found that only 29% of the energy use was electric, but electricity accounted for 80% of the cost. Knowing this allows us to make good, informed decisions on how to become more efficient and identify the best return on capital investment.”

With about 4,400 students, 680 staff, and 800,000 square feet across 15 sites, Aberdeen Public Schools could have a huge carbon footprint, but it pays attention to its environmental impact. Director of Operations

Ben Schnell has been with the schools almost his whole life, working 41 years since graduating from Central High School, and he’s seen how the system has committed to sustainability. When he was a student custodian, he climbed into boilers as big as a classroom. Today’s boilers are the size of his desk and significantly more efficient. That’s just one of many ways the system keeps improving, and he shared an impressive list: ~ “We always swap out appliances for a more efficient model” when they replace them,

Ben said, like boilers, water heaters, and air handling units. ~ Energy management software controls each building’s heating, cooling, and lighting. Large equipment is brought online at staggered times to manage peak load charges. “Variable frequency drives can control how the machines run so they don’t use more energy than needed,” he noted.

“For example, CHS air handlers are the size of a truck and take a lot of power. You don’t want them all to power on at once.” ~ The District is currently finishing a systemwide switch to LED lighting, which

Ben estimated to include 13,000 fixtures.

It’s the second complete changeout in 30 years. He noted, “Each change has brought dollar savings by reducing electrical consumption as well as improving the lighting quality.”

 LED lights illuminate the community kitchen area of NSU’s Wolves Memorial Suites residence hall.

A more complete list would also include, among others, geothermal heating and cooling at Holgate and Simmons middle schools, electric hand dryers to reduce paper waste, recycling and use of recycled products, and planting 75100 trees per year—pointing out diverse ways of being sustainable.

Travis Sichmeller has designed many geothermal projects in the state, and he likes a new technology, the hybrid heat pump, which combines conventional water-cooled air conditioning and hydronic space heating. The system efficiently heats and cools larger buildings, both by using energy only when it’s needed (the compressor only operates in the cooling mode) and through the capability of transferring energy from unit to unit and reducing boiler use.

Pioneering the hybrid system in South Dakota, Travis and his team used it to cut costs at Wolves Memorial Hall at Northern State University. “We learned from that job and have used the system more since then,” he said, “including four residential halls, the soccer/practice football facility, an assisted living facility, a Dacotah Bank renovation, and more.” He also imagines the technology in a potential greener future, musing, “If we could link multiple buildings needing heat with others needing to reject heat and transfer energy among them, that’s how we can be green!”

These are just a few of the reasons to celebrate on Earth Day in Aberdeen. Globally and nationally, we have a way to go. Summer forest fires a thousand miles away affecting Aberdeen’s air quality is only one symptom of a major problem. There’s still work to be done, but people are working. //

Fueling the Minds of the Future

Lunchtime Solutions partners with Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic schools for breakfast and lunch programs.

by JOSIE CLEMENS

We have all heard the harsh stereotypes around cafeteria food like the infamous “mystery meat” meal or the discolored mash, but Lunchtime Solutions is actively working to change the narrative. The company is a food service provider for breakfast and lunch programs in schools throughout the Midwest that strives to create nutritional and appetizing options on the menu. In our community, Lunchtime Solutions works with Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic school systems to assist in maintaining various aspects of their food programs. “This is all we do. There are other food service management companies out there that have multiple lines of business,” Area Director at Lunchtime Solutions Nic Lucart said. “We only focus on K-12 food service. We have made it our mission, and we want to be the best at it.”

 Erika McLeod, Lunchtime

Solutions Food Service Director for Aberdeen Public School

District, leads operations for the

Aberdeen school food programs.

The food service provider uses a standardized process adapted to each school and its needs. Because the Aberdeen Public and Catholic schools partner with Lunchtime Solutions, they have access to a larger network that offers better pricing and technology. From purchasing and procurement to maintaining state and federal food guidelines to managing menu designs and kitchen equipment, Lunchtime Solutions can handle it all.

“We have an amazing team whose passion for all things food service and culinary make the challenges more fun and the creative new ideas even that much more rewarding,” Deni Winter, vice president of business development/ marketing and purchasing at Lunchtime Solutions, said.

Partnering with Lunchtime Solutions opens up the opportunities for the school systems to offer more for their students with less day-to-day management from the school leaders, allowing them to focus on teaching and supporting the students in the classroom while Lunchtime Solutions manages the food programs.

“Lunchtime chooses to partner with schools that share in their core values,” Deni said. “We truly believe that creating long-term, successful partnerships that foster a good culture and support our teams and mission is invaluable.”

Here in Aberdeen, Lunchtime Solutions’s partnership includes 12 schools between Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic.

Partnerships in Aberdeen

Lunchtime Solutions first came to Aberdeen in 2013 to partner with the Aberdeen Catholic School System. And with the ever-changing regulations and policies placed on school breakfast and lunch programs, the assistance from an external company proved advantageous. “They have given us more food options

 One of the kitchen managers for Aberdeen Public, Shari

Holmes, serves food at

Holgate Middle School.

 When Lunchtime Solutions partners with schools, they incorporate an unlimited fruit and vegetable bar and signs like the one on the right to inspire students to start building healthy eating habits.

than we could have offered due to their ability to buy in large quantities,” Vickie Haiar, Roncalli’s business manager, said. “... Running a food service program is not easy, but hiring a company that specializes in food service has made it easier for a school our size.”

And in 2021, Lunchtime Solutions also partnered with Aberdeen Public Schools, adding nine more schools to its Aberdeen district.

Once a self-operated food program, Aberdeen Public chose this company based on prior performances in other schools and how they plan and prepare student meals. The transition to Lunchtime Solutions was smooth, and many of the previous employees stayed in the district.

“What they had was working great. They have fantastic people,” Food Service Director Erika McLeod said. The feedback from the employees was invaluable as Lunchtime Solutions began learning about their current system and started adding its own touch to the programs.

“The teams who have been working in the kitchens for a number of years were doing a wonderful job,” Deni elaborated. “They have helped us tremendously to understand the students' wants and needs and what they like. When we partner with a school, we always want the local kitchen staff to stay on as part of the program.”

When discussing how the company manages both school systems in the district, Erika explained that the success of the partnership of all schools and Lunchtime Solutions is communication.

“We have developed a fantastic relationship with Lunchtime,” Dr. Becky Guffin, superintendent of Aberdeen Public, said. “They are open to our feedback and have gone above and beyond to

In the Midst of a Pandemic

➼ COVID-19 has continually been at the forefront of all news outlets and daily conversations. Affecting the distribution processes across the nation, the food industry has been greatly affected by product and labor shortages. As a food service provider in the Midwest, Lunchtime Solutions has seen the changes and how it impacts schools in different areas of the country.

How have our Aberdeen schools, who are partnered with Lunchtime Solutions, been affected by the supply chain issues? Deni Winters observed, “Aberdeen is in a unique situation compared to the rest of our customers.”

Lunchtime Solutions partners with Cash-Wa Distributing (CWD) as their main grocery supplier, and luckily for Aberdeen, we have a CWD center in town. All the product that the Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic schools receive is locally distributed. The proximity to the warehouse speeds up the delivery process and makes it easy for food workers to drive to CWD if an item in their order was forgotten.

And if the schools are short one or two items, Lunchtime Solutions has house accounts set up with local grocers Ken’s and Kessler’s to purchase items that are low on inventory to meet the schools’ needs until the next bulk of products is delivered through CWD.

With purchasing and compliance departments that track data like inventory and supply chain trends, Lunchtime Solutions is able to continue to feed nutritious meals to students in Aberdeen without any significant changes caused by the national supply chain issues.

 Middle school students grab lunch at the production kitchen at

Holgate Middle School.

provide quality meals to our students every day in spite of several challenges with supply chain issues and ongoing COVID protocols.”

Even in the middle of a pandemic, Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic schools have one main goal in common with Lunchtime Solutions, and that is to give the children nutritious meals and educate them on healthy choices.

A Student-First Approach

With as many regulations placed on school lunch programs as there are today, the process of finding exciting meals and expanded options can be difficult. However, with the mission to fuel the minds of the future, Lunchtime Solutions works hard to create enjoyable menus for the students and build their knowledge of food.

“We strive for our programs to not only gain student participation but to offer students choices that they like. Nourish not only their bodies but their minds, too, so that schools can focus on the goals that they are there to accomplish—to educate and support students,” Deni said.

Lunchtime Solutions’s partnership with the school extends to the students as they are the primary “customer.” With high school and middle school students receiving multiple options—hot and cold—for their main course and elementary schools offering the choice of either one hot or one cold meal, the students’ choices have increased since the switch from self-operated programs, and workers value the students’ feedback.

“Not only do students have choices, but students also have a voice on those choices. Students are surveyed and are allowed to come to meetings involving giving feedback about the options,” Deni explained. “Students also benefit from choices and the unlimited fruit and veggie bar with every meal.”

The unlimited fruit and vegetables bar is a big crowd favorite at all grade levels. The large variety of fruits and vegetables exposes children to healthy snacks that they might not see outside school, like kiwi. If students are not full from their main dish, they can keep eating from the fruit and vegetable bar instead of trying to learn on an empty stomach in the afternoon, building healthy eating habits.

“We are passionate about educating children on nutrition and giving them options that allow them to focus on the right foods to consume each day to perform at their highest level,” Erika said.

When available, Lunchtime Solutions even brings in produce from local growers, showing students that healthy options are accessible while also involving and supporting the community.

“We have had tremendous feedback from both students and parents about having a choice and the nice variety of options that are provided each day,” Becky said. “We have students who are eating school breakfast and/ or lunch who have never participated in the program in previous years.”

Lunchtime Solutions is dedicated to the students at Aberdeen Public and Aberdeen Catholic schools in not only providing quality meals but also going the extra mile and building the foundation for students to learn about food in the classroom and apply it to their lifestyles.

Nic concluded, “We are just really happy to be here, and we are proud of what we do. We are proud to be a part of the district and look forward to doing it for a long time.” //