News & Resources
Energy Works partnered with SHW Group to conduct a comprehensive Technical Energy Analysis (TEA), or energy audit, of the Wagar Middle School building. The energy audit is provided free to the district, at the school facility selected to participate in the program.
After careful investigation of energy use in the facility, and following a thorough engineering analysis on potential modifications, the TEA Report identified two types of recommended improvements to the building: (1) low/no cost Behavioral, Operations, and Maintenance Improvements (BOMIs) and (2) Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), which require financial investment. In all, these recommended improvements will yield significant annual energy savings and offer a quick return on investment, which means that savings from improvements will completely pay for the initial investment in 8 years or less.
Specifically, Airport Community Schools has developed a plan to save money through implementing measures including upgrading to high efficiency boilers, installing demand control ventilation, and vending machine misers to reduce unnecessary use.
Airport Community Schools Maintenance Director, Dan Fahnestock, told Energy Works that the information learned was “a big factor in helping us decide that it was time to improve the heating system in the building.” In addition, he stated that “other information pointed out in this grant has brought to my attention things we can do to save energy throughout our district. Examples are the use of vending machine misers and lighting controls, which we will be implementing into our other buildings. I am also sure as time goes on there are going to be others.”
As a result of their energy saving efforts and commitment to improving their facilities, Airport Community Schools has been awarded an additional $5,000 grant to assist with the cost of these improvements at Wagar Middle School.
Investing in energy efficiency improvements saves energy and improves the comfort and quality of learning spaces for students, teachers and staff. As part of the program, Wagar Middle School will additionally receive professional development for teachers, energy lesson plans and a laboratory kit for the classroom.
“The process has been a helpful tool in finding ways to improve our energy efficiencies and at the same time improve the environment. Our teachers are very excited to participate in the training that this grant is providing. I am sure they will pass the knowledge they learn on to the students of our schools,” Fahnestock said.
To date, 39 schools statewide are participating in the Energy Efficiency Program. Schools have specified their plans for anticipated investments in energy efficiency improvements at their facilities, and the anticipated annual savings after implementing the improvements identified in the energy audit report. Energy Works has awarded a total of $40,000 to 8 of those schools. In addition to Airport Community Schools, the following school districts and school entities have also been awarded $5,000 matching grants for their energy efficiency efforts and commitment to improving their facilities:
Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn, MI
Grant - Grant High School in Grant, MI
Hartford - Hartford Middle School in Hartford, MI
Laingsburg - Laingsburg Elementary School in Laingsburg, MI
Oakridge - Oakridge Lower Elementary School in Muskegon, MI
Riverview - Seitz Middle School in Riverview, MI
Rudolf Steiner Lower School in Ann Arbor, MI
Copyright © 2012 Energy Works Michigan
All Rights Reserved