Missouri School District Expects Big Savings from Facility Improvements
To better manage rising energy and maintenance costs, Blue Springs School District leaders recently approved a 15-year performance-based solution to improve the energy and operational efficiency of the system’s 23 schools and other buildings. Equivalent energy cost savings for the school district are projected to reach more than $600,000 annually and generate approximately $370,000 in annual operational savings from reduced maintenance and repair expenses.
These projected cost savings will come as a result of a comprehensive program of facility improvements that encompass mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting retrofits, plumbing fixtures and building automation control upgrades. The entire retrofit and upgrade project, to be performed by Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., is scheduled to be completed over the course of one summer break. The condensed nature of the project alone will save the school district an estimated $450,000 in avoided construction costs and deliver a greater amount of energy savings faster—something that will deliver significant cost savings earlier in the project’s timeline.
“This project will cut energy use in an accelerated fashion and help us better manage associated costs well into the future,” says District facility manager Dr. Bill Cowling. “The new, efficient equipment will also ease the maintenance burden on our staff and allow us to provide our students and faculty with a more comfortable and productive learning environment. In these times of increasing energy costs, global warming concerns and air quality issues, the reduction of energy usage provided by Siemens will also help us improve the environment and benefit our community as well.”
The efficiency improvements and retrofits slated for the project have been designed to reduce electricity use, optimize cooling and heating energy demands and water usage. Once completed, annual energy and other savings are anticipated to reach 6,925,961 kilowatt hours of electricity, 13,304,000 cf of natural gas and 5,523 kgals of water. According to Siemens, over the 15-year contract period this will reduce emissions of typical greenhouse gases (CO 2 , NO X and SO 2 ) by more than 100,000 tons*.
To get the job done, Siemens is working closely with JE Dunn Construction Co., a leader in institutional and academic construction throughout the U.S. “As the lead contractor on the project, being able to deliver a comprehensive solution that puts Blue Springs at the forefront of energy efficiency in the short span of summer break—is not only an economic win for the district, but a win for the environment as well.” says Dave Barber PE, vice president –Mechanical/Electrical at JE Dunn.
Within the scope of the agreement Siemens will also deliver a variety of value-added services beyond the installation and integration of the energy efficiency technologies. For example, Siemens will train a District employee to become a Certified Energy Manager. This Nationally recognized certification provides a knowledge base so the District can independently develop and implement additional energy management strategies that are likely to result in additional energy savings. Siemens will also train a District employee to become a Certified Controls Technician which will help it better manage its new systems with its own staff moving forward.
In the spirit of public/private partnerships, and through its Building Education program, Siemens is sponsoring two High School-level “Project Lead the Way Labs” and the necessary equipment. Siemens is a leader in developing the Industry Council for supporting Missouri and Kansas Project Lead the Way K-12 initiatives. Siemens is also donating the time of two professional engineers (PEs) that work for the company who will participate in the District’s Robotics Class Job Shadowing program. Siemens employees will interact with students in a variety if ways, delivering lectures, conducting classroom exercises and facilitating student projects.
