The Cannon Foundation awards $95,000 for efficient HVAC system

The Cannon Foundation awarded $95,000 to Beaufort County Community College to replace its deteriorating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in its Advanced Manufacturing Building. The grant helped offset the cost of the $156,000 project. The new system will help make the building more energy efficient and save the college on maintenance and energy costs.

BCCC houses its mechanical engineering technology and welding technology programs in its Advanced Manufacturing Building, both of which require effective ventilation to mitigate the effect of any harmful air pollutants produced by the machinery or chemicals. In addition to these two degree programs, the college also offers short-term training courses related to them through its Continuing Education Division.

The new system will operate 35 percent more efficiently, as the current system is original to the 42-year-old building. The college anticipates saving $13,850 per year in energy and maintenance costs with the new system or $208,000 over the course of 15 years, and the air handlers have a lifespan of 25 years. The efficiency of the new system will also reduce the college’s carbon emissions by 81 metric tons per year, or the equivalent of taking 17 cars off the road.

The Cannon Foundation had previously funded the replacement of the HVAC system for the Student Services Building, Building 9. The independent foundation was established in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, president and chairman of Cannon Mills Company for more than 50 years. Cannon was born in Concord, NC and built the Cannon Mills Company into a household name. A main focus of the foundation is supporting higher education.