Todd County Fiscal Court — Facility Modernization & Energy Efficiency Project

In Brief: The Project at a Glance

• Todd County faced growing operational strain from aging infrastructure and rising utility costs driven heavily by the jail.
• AFP engineers listened closely, expanded the project scope beyond the jail, and built a comprehensive plan tailored to real county needs.
• The work blended HVAC upgrades, geothermal loop restoration, and solar PV to stabilize long-term energy costs and reduce operational liability.

Why We Were Called

Todd County wasn’t looking for shiny upgrades or a quick win. They needed relief — real relief — from the constant budget pressure created by their aging infrastructure and the financial gravity of the county jail. Every year, more and more money was being diverted just to keep essential services operating.

Budget strain was becoming a way of life.

When AFP stepped in, the goal was simple: reduce operational liability in a way that actually made a difference.

Key Achievements

• Reduced operational liability tied to the county jail
• Stabilized long-term energy and utility costs across multiple facilities
• Improved HVAC reliability with minimal disruption during peak summer operations
• Tuned and restored geothermal loop efficiency
• Integrated solar PV to reduce daytime electrical load and support budgeting stability
• Delivered a broader, countywide improvement strategy rather than a jail-only fix

Setting the Stage

Todd County’s facilities were aging, and the strain was showing. Rising energy costs, deferred maintenance, and outdated HVAC systems put increasing pressure on the county’s budget, especially the ongoing operational demands of the jail.

County leaders were direct about their challenge: “Budget constraints caused by the Jail.”

The Fiscal Court wasn’t trying to modernize for aesthetics. They were trying to regain control of a budget that was becoming less flexible every year. That meant reducing energy waste, improving system reliability, and preventing the kind of emergency failures that drain resources.

Our Approach

The project began with a careful review of needs, priorities, and operational constraints. While the county initially believed the project should focus solely on the jail, deeper conversations, and data, revealed a better path.

A broader scope with bigger impact

The project team recognized early that focusing solely on the jail wouldn’t deliver the long-term budget stability county leaders needed. A broader plan was developed that included solar, HVAC improvements, and geothermal loop maintenance.

Instead of isolating one building, the engineering team evaluated multiple county facilities. This allowed engineers to:

• Identify hidden inefficiencies
• Pinpoint HVAC systems operating far below expected performance
• Reveal geothermal loops in need of tuning and flow balancing
• Determine where solar would provide meaningful long-term cost reductions

By expanding the project beyond the jail, the county received a more resilient and financially impactful modernization effort.

The Work: Scope of Improvements

Jail & Public Safety Facilities

• Coordinated removal and replacement of HVAC systems during peak summer occupancy
• Improved system reliability to ensure comfort and reduce operational costs
• Targeted efficiency upgrades to reduce monthly utility burden

Geothermal Loop Maintenance

• System tuning to restore energy transfer performance
• Loop flow adjustments to reduce compressor strain
• Long-term reliability improvements

Solar PV Integration

A key part of the modernization effort was adding solar PV to help reduce daytime electrical load and give the county better long-term control over utility costs. The system was designed with public transparency in mind, and once fully integrated, the county will be able to view live and historical solar generation data online.

A dedicated monitoring dashboard will allow county leaders and residents to see exactly how much energy the solar arrays are producing and how they’re offsetting operational costs.

Live Monitoring Dashboard: view live dashboard

• Daytime load-offsetting solar arrays installed at strategic locations
• Long-term cost stabilization through reduced electrical demand
• Future-ready design for monitoring integration

Administrative & Public Buildings

• HVAC optimization, system balancing, and efficiency checks
• Controls improvements for better scheduling and reduced runtime
• Budget-friendly improvements with high cumulative impact

Results: Measured Impact

Countywide Performance Improvements

• Lower HVAC operating costs across multiple facilities
• Stabilized comfort in buildings that previously struggled during temperature extremes
• Reduced maintenance needs due to updated equipment and tuned geothermal loops
• More predictable monthly utility costs, especially for the jail

Operational and Financial Impact

• Reduced operational liability tied directly to infrastructure performance
• Lower risk of emergency mechanical failures
• A foundation for more accurate long-term budgeting

These improvements didn’t just cut energy waste—they gave Todd County meaningful financial breathing room.

What’s Next?

With modernized systems in place, Todd County now has a reliable mechanical and energy foundation that reduces reactionary spending and supports long-term planning.

The upgrades completed through this project won’t just affect today’s budget. They’ll also shape the county’s operational stability for years to come.

The project established a framework for future improvements, providing a clear path forward for smart, sustainable county infrastructure.