Lee’s Summit R-7 School District continuing energy-savings efforts
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Lee’s Summit R7 School District, Edu, GSD Online
Thanks to work approved through April no-tax-increase bond issue, program is savings millions of dollars for local schools
McWatty, the district's energy mascot, and Rick Steagall, R-7 energy manager, are pictured with the helicopter used to lift new HVAC units to the Richardson Elementary roof.
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and Trane have joined forces to save money for local schools while reducing the district’s energy usage. Through the R-7 School District’s performance-contracting energy-saving effort, the R-7 School District is completing a variety of projects this summer and into the 2010-11 school year.
The performance-contracting efforts began eight years ago and have utilized energy performance contracting, a method to finance energy-efficient building improvements in part with energy savings realized. As a result, the projects are saving millions of dollars in energy costs for Lee’s Summit R-7.
HVAC units are lifted via helicopter to the Richardson Elementary roof on July 8 as part of energy-saving efforts through the R-7 School District performance contract program.
Beginning July 8, a number of rooftop heating/air-conditioning/ventilation (HVAC) rooftop units are being replaced at a total of six R-7 schools. In all, the program includes energy-efficient improvements at a total of 14 buildings this year.
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District is also involving its staff and students in conservation education efforts, saving energy and money, by changing behaviors such as use of lighting, water, heat and air-conditioning. McWatty, the district’s energy mascot, will continue visiting schools and school-district offices to help encourage this focus on environmental practices.
McWatty, the district's energy mascot, and Rick Steagall, R-7 energy manager, are pictured by the new HVAC rooftop units a few minutes before they were lifted to the Richardson Elementary roof.
The R-7 School District is completing the final scope of work on the sixth phase of its ongoing energy-saving performance contract program. These efforts have included lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements, water-usage savings and boiler and chiller upgrades. The facility improvements are taking place at 14 school sites with work beginning last April and scheduled for completion in August 2011. The facility improvements will be completed without increasing the school district’s operating budget thanks to funding from a voter-approved, no-tax-increase April 2010 bond issue. In addition, Lee’s Summit R-7 is enhancing its savings by participating in Kansas City Power and Light’s Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. The projects also receive support from grant funds and the ongoing energy savings.
In addition, the R-7 School District continues to work to reduce its energy usage and become more environmentally friendly in many areas. For example, the district is replacing four inefficient diesel vehicles with four electric vehicles for in-district distribution through the R-7 warehouse.
Energy-saving performance contracting began in 2002 within the R-7 School District and is projected to save more than $4.4 million in energy costs over the next 15 years. Through performance contracting, the district works with an outside contractor to complete facility improvements aimed at saving energy, paying for the improvements through money recouped through the reduced utility costs. The program includes a guaranteed savings from the contractor.
NOTE: For more information about KCP&L’s Commercial and Industrial Rebate Programs, please visit kcpl.programprocessing.com.
