Menasha Joint School District in Wisconsin completes new net-zero middle school

MENASHA, Wis., 2024 — Menasha Joint School District is leveraging Elective Pay to reduce the price tag on a new net-zero intermediate/middle school. While the project always planned to include a ground-source heat pump system, solar panels and energy storage were added to the project once the opportunity to capture valuable tax credits became clear. The district worked with SMART Local 18 on the heat pump portion of the project.

Project type: New Construction - Net Zero Building

Eligible equipment: Ground-source heat pumps, solar, energy storage

Date in service: 2025

Bonus credits: Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship

Learn more:

• High school students tour construction site of all electric middle school

• How to Cut Energy Costs Using Direct Pay for Public Buildings and How Local Unions Can Benefit

“The district is very excited and thankful of the IRA funding that was made available to public and nonprofit entities via a direct payment. The IRA funding is having an impact on the current construction project as well as future projects. The community will also save on operational costs well into the future with a net-zero building”.

-Brian Adesso, Director of Business Services, Menasha Joint School District