2011 – 2016 Past Intern Projects
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2016
Anoka-Hennepin School District, Fridley, Tanner Glaza
Goal: Water conservation opportunities for irrigation systems and improved soil conditions and turf grass health.
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Cemstone, Mendota Heights, Brent Vizanko
Goal: Reduce fresh water from product production and truck washout and identify improvements to water reuse systems.
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Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), Minneapolis, Tiger Rost
Goal: Conduct energy audits at small industrial facilities to identify energy savings opportunities in compressed air systems, process energy, lighting, and HVAC.
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City of St. Peter Wastewater Treatment Facility, St. Peter, Merry Tesfu
Goal: Energy savings through improved blower-generated dissolved oxygen and control in the treatment stage.
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City of Woodbury, Woodbury, Nathan Landwehr
Goal: Water reduction in residential landscape and turf irrigation.
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Ecolibrium3, Duluth, Hanne Guthrie
Goal: Benchmark data and conduct energy, water, and waste audits at small businesses in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
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G&K Services, Minnetonka, Katherine Venne
Goal: Solid waste reduction and reducing VOC concentrations in wastewater.
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HCMC, Minneapolis, Rachel Kosse
Goal: Water reduction opportunities in system distribution, washing and sterilizing processes, and building process uses.
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IBM, Rochester, Danny Sales
Goal: Energy efficiency for on-site cooling coils and air handling units and optimal steam and chilled water conditions.
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Lorentz Meats, Cannon Falls, Nicholas Drews
Goal: Reduce energy use in the refrigeration system and other process energy uses, as well as water and chemicals used for multiple cleaning and sanitation operations.
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Nordic Ware, St. Louis Park, Roopesh Pushpala
Goal: Improve paint transfer efficiency, conserve energy, increase production throughput, and improve automation.
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R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Omar Hammami
Goal: Reduce water use in the DI water system and single-pass water cooled freeze dryers and reduce on-site energy consumption.
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TEL FSI, INC., Chaska, Alex Mantos
Goal: Identify water conservation and reuse opportunities and ways to increase materials recycling.
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Xcel Energy Riverside and Black Dog Plants, Twin Cities, Christine Lucky
Goal: Evaluate the potential for water use reduction or reuse in multiple processes at each plant.
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2011 – 2015
Antea Group, Shoreview, Ross Wise
Goal: Conduct benchmarking study of Minnesota craft breweries and complete road-mapping assessments and reports at select sites.
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Caterpillar Paving Products, Brooklyn Park, William Bowman
Goal: Compressed air opportunities to improve energy efficiency.
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City of Woodbury, Woodbury, Benjamin Heinle
Goal: Water conservation for commercial irrigation systems.
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Davisco Foods, Le Sueur, Stephen Raab
Goal: reduce water usage, wastewater loading, and energy in the cheese production process.
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ECO Finishing, Fridley, Jerico Sanchez Hulstrand
Goal: Waste process optimization in the electroplating process
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Firmenich, New Ulm, Sushruth Venkatesh
Goal: Increase efficiency and conserve energy in the spray drying process
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Kemps Ice Cream, Rochester, Anne Hunter
Goal: Reduce product and raw material loading in the receiving and mixing areas of the ice cream production process.
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Lloyd’s BBQ, Mendota Heights, Ayotunde Olatunbosun
Goal: Water conservation, waste reduction, and energy efficiency opportunities in the meat packaging process.
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Lou-Rich, Albert Lea, Carter Tollefson
Goal: Improve process efficiency and reduce energy consumption in the freezer line production process.
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Park Nicollet Health Services, Twin Cities, Hannah Brady
Goal: Source reduction, waste diversion, and staff education opportunities at clinics.
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Sanimax, South Saint Paul, Joseph Carlson
Goal: Reduce water usage, wastewater loading, and energy for four process streams of the by-product reclamation process.
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Southwest Regional Solid Waste Commission, Cottonwood, Jackson and Nobles Counties, Nathan Landwehr
Goal: Source reduction and waste diversion opportunities for businesses in Southwest Minnesota.
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Xcel Energy Riverside Plant, Minneapolis, Mitchell Cleveland
Goal: Opportunities to conserve and reuse water
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ECO Finishing, Fridley, Erik Anderson
Goal: Researching water conservation opportunities in the electroplating process.
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GE Water & Process Technologies, Minnetonka, Nikola Trukov
Goal: Researching water reduction opportunities in the production and testing of filter products as well as the use of non-contact cooling water and electrical energy.
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Gerdau, St. Paul, Daniel Sundberg
Goal: Investigating heating and reheating processes to find energy efficiencies in steel production.
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Kerry Ingredients, Rochester, Simone Richardson
Goal: Investigating methods to reduce wastewater loading and well water usage in food processing.
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Kraft Foods, Albany, Boyang Li
Goal: Developing techniques to conserve energy in the cheese drying process.
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MGK, Chaska, Neil Peterson
Goal: Researching opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce chemical waste.
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MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), St. Paul, Li Guan
Goal: Reducing solid and organic waste at state agencies.
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City of St. Cloud, Emily Campion
Goal: Reducing electric energy consumption of aeration blowers.
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TEL FSI, INC, Chaska, David Binstock
Goal: Researching multiple water conservation and reuse opportunities and electric energy efficiency improvements.
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Uponor, Apple Valley, Christopher Lanari
Goal: Researching material and energy efficiency for a new extrusion process.
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Uponor, Apple Valley, Calen Papke
Goal: Researching and developing new methods to improve yield and reduce process waste.
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City of Hutchinson Wastewater Treatment Facility, Hutchinson (Spring intern), Yulin Yee
Goal: Researching and evaluating process modification options for denitrification and energy conservation.
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Consolidated Precision Products, Bloomington, Anshul Gupta
Goal: Researching energy efficiency and water conservation improvement opportunities in the aluminum casting processes.
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CSM Bakery Products, Eagan, Zachary Metz
Goal: Researching opportunities to reduce energy use, conserve water, and improve process efficiencies.
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Federal Cartridge, Anoka, Kaylea Brase
Goal: Researching multiple water conservation and recycling oppotunities including single pass cooling applications and other metal-forming manufacturing steps that incoporate washing and rinsing.
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Gedney Foods, Chaska, Ryan Venteicher
Goal: Reducing water use and wastewater created during product processing as well as improving efficiencies, reducing salt use, and reducing chloride content in the wastewater.
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Northern Star/Michael Foods, Chaska, Alex Hoppes
Goal: Researching possible well water reduction and reuse opportunities in the potato scrubbing process and other plant operations.
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Schwing America, White Bear Lake, Paul Senne
Goal: Researching opportunities to reduce energy use and increase efficiency through the lean manufacturing process.
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St. Croix Forge, Forest Lake, Amanda Spencer
Goal: Evaluate hydrolic cooling, air compressor, and press lubrication systems identifying ways to cost effectively reduce process energy and material use.
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St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, Ben Wagener
Goal: Researching opportunities to reduce the hospital’s electric energy consumption and costs.
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ST Specialty Foods, Brooklyn Park, Rahul Dhuria
Goal: Continuous improvement in a growing pasta packaging company
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Tennant Company, Minneapolis, Jaclyn Thomes
Goal: Developing an inventory of all waste streams targeting source reduction and diversion initiatives as well as analyzing water consumption in the reverse osmosis system.
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3M, Hutchinson, Olivia Zigler
Goal: Identifying solution for reducing electrical consumption related to the operation of industrial motors.
Ceramic Industrial Coatings, Osseo, Ian Huxford
Goal: Identify solutions to reduce solvent use and waste created during the manufacturing and clean-up processes.
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G & K Services, St. Cloud, Leigh Severson
Goal: Determine solutions to reduce water consumption through improved wastewater treatment and reuse.
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GE Water and Process Technologies, Minnetonka, Brandon Vogt
Goal: Reduce water consumption related to the production and testing of filter products as well as the use of non-contact cooling water.
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Graco, Minneapolis, Brian Joe
Goal: Research the current paint line wash chemistry and making recommendations to implement changes to reduce gas, electric, and water use.
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Land O’Lakes, Arden Hills, Jessica Primozich & Matt Domski
Goal: Research and evaluate options for managing organic waste and then develop a model that other facilities can use. Sponsored by Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Board
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Northern Iron and Machine, St. Paul, Eric Sterna
Goal: Validate energy and environmental savings of a three-furnace cooling system and investigate heat recovery modifications on heat treat ovens.
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Seneca Foods, Rochester, Emily Hutson
Goal: Reduce energy use by identifying opportunities to improve steam system efficiencies.
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Various Restaurants, Ramsey & Washington Counties, Jessica Primozich & Matt Domski
Goal: Evaluate restaurants in three geographic locations to identify opportunities for managing organic waste and to create a model for other restaurants. Sponsored by Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Board
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August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm
Goal: Recover waste heat from the brewing and pasteurizing processes and reduce wastewater strength charges.
City of Rogers Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rogers
Goal: Identify energy efficiency opportunities in the wastewater treatment plant.
Ecolab Inc., Eagan
Goal: Reduce energy use in the steam and compressed air systems.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, St. Paul
Goal: Determine energy efficiency opportunities within a variety of processes at the wastewater treatment facility.
Radisson Hotel, Bloomington
Goal: Evaluate hotel and water park energy use and develop an environmental reduction plan.
Salo Manufacturing, Menahga
Goal: Validate the performance of a low-styrene, soy-based, or no-styrene resin and gel-coats.
Truck Bodies Equipment International, Lake Crystal
Goal: Reduce energy use in painting, curing, ventilation, and dust collecting processes, as well as in compressed air systems.
Uponor Inc., Apple Valley
Goal: Reduce energy use in manufacturing processes and facility.