INDIANAPOLIS — The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has pursued steps to reduce its overall energy use. In recognition of the Eiteljorg’s overall 18 percent reduction in its electricity consumption, AES Indiana presented a financial incentive to the museum. The Eiteljorg received $22,810 to support all implementation costs and $49,400 to cover the full cost of the energy efficiency study, totaling $72,210 in incentives from the utility.
AES Indiana offers a retro-commissioning (RCx) program that assists participating businesses, nonprofits and other commercial utility ratepayers in identifying improvements to make their buildings more energy efficient and reduce their overall electricity usage. Those who agree to a study conducted by one of AES Indiana’s qualified providers and make the improvements it recommends can have 75 percent of the study costs absorbed by AES Indiana.
The Eiteljorg Museum opened in 1989, and an expansion in 2005 doubled the size of the building. Further renovations took place in 2021-2022. The museum must operate at a consistent, regulated indoor temperature and humidity round the clock – even at night when visitors are not present – in order to properly preserve and maintain thousands of artworks and cultural objects. Through its participation in the RCx program and study performed by HEAPY Engineering of its heating and cooling systems, the Eiteljorg has implemented improvements that will help the museum operate more efficiently.
