Quest to save energy, money
Savings could be substantial
By Bobbi Mlynar
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Emporia Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday evening to spend $36,028 in the hope of saving several times that amount in energy and utility costs every year.
Information about an energy audit was presented to the board by Koby Kempschroeder, representing Custom Energy Services of Overland Park.
The presentation came during the second of two meetings held at Emporia High School. The first meeting was the annual dinner and discussion gathering of board members and EHS Student Council members.
The audit proposal during the board's regular meeting came through a Facility Conservation and Improvement Program sponsored through the Kansas Department of Commerce. Custom Energy is a ConEdison Solutions Company, according to material provided by Kempschroeder.
Custom Energy toured 15 district buildings to identify potential upgrades and savings that could be made in up to 31 different areas.
"We think there's an opportunity to save about $94,000 in energy (per year)," Kempschroeder told the board.
Mechanical systems also may be adding significant costs to the district's budget. In several areas, a large boiler provides heat for the buildings, as well as energy for the kitchen or food service, showers, and other items.
"That requires you to operate that big huge boiler all year long," he said. "In the summertime ... you could be much more efficient not operating that boiler."
Other changes and upgrades also were offered in a graph presented to the board.
Kempschroeder said that the audit would present a "menu" of potential changes that could be made. The board could choose to accept the entire program, or could select specific items from the possibilities offered.
The changes, if done through Custom Energy, could be financed, if the board wished. The audit fee would be added into the principal and would not need to be separately.
The company would guarantee its proposed utility-bill savings and would reimburse the board the difference if the savings did not come through fully. Kempschroeder said that other factors, though, would influence the guarantee. The savings would change, for example, if the district changed the square footage of a building by adding a room.
Superintendent John Heim told the board that it was not obligated to continue with Custom Energy after the audit was completed.
"Then we'll take a look at what the advantages and disadvantages are going on from there," Heim said.
Kempschroeder estimated the audit would take approximately three to four months to complete.
For other actions taken by the board, see Thursday's Gazette.
jamesbordonaro (James Bordonaro) says...
I believe this will be money well spent in upgrading the electric and hot water systems throughout the district. The board should move forward with this proposal but should also ask Custom Energy if there aren't smaller portions of the contract that could be let out to local construction companies.
February 13, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )