Energy efficiency has long been a relative achievement for most companies and establishments of several varieties, with oftentimes ever evolving means.
The Western Line School District most recently took advantage of a partnership with Schneider Electric aimed toward achieving optimal energy efficiency.
The completion of construction and the early success of the district’s energy project with the company was announced during a regular meeting of the WLSD Board of Trustees on Thursday.
“With the completion of construction, the partnership has just begun it’s first year of guaranteed savings,” a press release from Schneider Electric stated.
The overarching advantages of attaining energy efficiency?
For starters, significant savings in terms of cost to the district and a positive impact across the board economically.
In addition, energy efficiency contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and demand for energy imports.
Schneider’s post project support team leader Zack Burch shared with Superintendent Lawrence Hudson and the board that he’s seen great success so far.
“We looked today through November, you’re already up to $84,000 in savings, so that’s a huge success for such a short period,” he said.
Burch’s role involves measurement verification, troubleshooting, presentations, along with taking care of any warranty items that come up and making sure all of the district buildings are as optimized as possible.
As stated in the press release, the project focuses on upgrades to the school district’s lighting, automation of equipment to deliver efficiency gains across the district, mechanical retrofits, building envelop solutions, window replacements, roof replacement and sports lighting improvements.
Those upgrades and innovations will in turn lead to a 28% reduction in energy costs and returns of potentially more than $97,000 each year over the span of the project.
“Over the course of the project, the district will see over $2,600,00 in energy savings,” Schneider highlighted in the press release.
Schneider also pointed out that before becoming involved, WLSD faced challenges with funding for deferred maintenance issues and rising electricity costs.
“By working with Schneider Electric and implementing the energy capital recovery and reinvestment model to fund these upgrades, the school was able to fund major infrastructure improvements without needing to pull from budgets in other funding pockets,” the press release concluded. “Additionally, the money that would otherwise be spent on utility costs was reinvested directly back into the school to enhance student experiences.”
