When the first Colorado School of Mines (CSM) buildings were constructed in 1874, producing steam heat sufficient for high-country winters was a key part of the engineering plan. Over time, CSM shifted from on-site production to purchasing and piping surplus steam from Coors Brewing Company. Coors announced a substantial price hike in 2015, leading CSM to reestablish its own boiler room. Legacy Mechanical was contracted to find the best way to meet the 70,000 pounds per hour peak load requirement.

Legacy’s dual-boiler solution not only met the demand, but cut the per-thousand-pound cost of steam from $13.11 to $6.14, resulting in a first-year savings of a half-million dollars.