TRANE representatives provided an overview of a proposed $1.5 million Energy Conservation Program during a recent presentation to the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education. (Click on photo to enlarge)

An Energy Conservation Program focused on school buildings in the Three Rivers school district may be set in motion in the early part of 2010.

That was the indication during the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education meeting on December 14th as three representatives of TRANE provided an overview of the detailed energy audit they and three other colleagues performed during the last six months.

The work – involving 771 hours of labor by a six-member team of TRANE employees – was completed following board action in May to move forward in response to the results of a preliminary audit by TRANE projecting savings of $203,000 annually, a scenario that would support a $1.5 million energy conservation project.

This PowerPoint slide outlined benefits envisioned from the proposed Energy Conservation Program. (Click on photo to enlarge)

The program, outlined in a PowerPoint presentation and in fine detail in a three-ring binder, utilizes what was termed “a self-funded approach,” meaning that dollars saved through the program help fund the proposed improvements so the money does not come out of the district’s capital budget.

As the TRANE presentation wrapped up, Steve Lucas, director of operations for the school district, told board members their ‘homework assignment’ was to review the material in their three-ring binders in advance of the board’s second meeting in January – on Monday, January 26th – when he’ll have a follow-up presentation on the subject.  Lucas said, “I want everybody to understand it, to know what’s in the project.”  And, he added, “A lot of the work we could be prepared to do in the course of the summer.”

One of the TRANE representatives said that, if the program is approved, the company would have to put together the contract after which “equipment, lighting, and that type of thing” would be ordered, and the company “would mobilize as soon as January.”

The primary focus of the program is a “Base Project” with a 10-year term and various components, all of which have associated savings.  A second “Option Project” is also outlined – with a 15-year term and some additional elements.

The proposed project is expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately one-third.