Designing with sustainability in mind paid off for Michigan State University—literally.

The Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Teaching & Research Center secured more than $175,000 in energy rebates from Consumers Energy thanks to the energy-efficiencies baked right into the design of the building.

The new Teaching & Research Center is home to a herd of 650 cows, which is maintained for teaching, extension, and research purposes. The transformed facility, which opened in 2025, was recognized by the Michigan Green Building Collaborative as one of the most innovative projects for its leadership in energy efficiency, health and wellness, indoor air quality, resiliency, waste reduction, and other forward-looking strategies.

RELATED: MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching + Research Center recognized by MiGBC

Key sustainable features include stormwater reuse, heat recovery, solar readiness, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. With an investment of more than $75 million and spanning over 200,000 square feet, the facility reflects MSU’s long term commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the future of agricultural education.

The TowerPinkster Building Science team, including Julia Sicoli, a Mechanical Engineer and rebate specialist, helped MSU secure a $176,000 rebate from Consumers Energy for the university’s investment in energy-efficient facilities. Kelsey Groesbeck, Associate Principal of Building Science and Mechanical Engineer, said smart choices now help owners in the long run. 

“Our work securing rebates for the MSU dairy facility highlights how energy incentive programs directly reward building owners by putting capital back in their pockets for choosing smarter, high-performance upgrades.”

The rebates were earned in two parts: Prescriptive Efficient Building Systems and Milk Production Equipment. The Milk Production rebate is based on state-of-the-art energy recovery where heat is captured from the milk cooling process to temper water storage tanks.

The building side rebate capitalized on highly controlled natural ventilation through the herd room. Dairy barns require continuous fresh air to keep the herd healthy and comfortable. The MSU project shows how this is achievable while keeping energy use in check. Instead of mechanically cooling a barn the size of a football field, the system uses smart automation to turn the building into an aerodynamic wind tunnel. By combining standard equipment into a synchronized feedback loop, the facility transforms ordinary hardware into a dynamic system without wasting energy. 

Visit msu.edu to learn more about the Dairy Cattle Center.