SAD 17 sees savings from energy retrofit

OXFORD —  Energy-saving improvements to SAD 17 buildings have saved the district more than $1.5 million over the past five years, according to district officials.

The substantial savings and positive environmental impact generated from the first two phases of the energy retrofit program have prompted the district to look into further improvements, including new biomass boilers for five schools.

In a presentation to the SAD 17 board of directors Monday evening, business manager Cathy Coffey told the board that the savings from Phase I of the retrofit, completed in 2007, had been $1,571,663.

The cost of improvements, including lighting replacement, heat loss prevention and heating and cooling needs for eight schools is around $1.6 million.

As Coffey explained, the performance contract the district signed with Seimens engineering corporation is repaid through the savings generated by the project, with no up-front costs.

The contract includes guaranteed yearly savings from the improvements – if those savings aren't met, Seimen's reimburses the difference to the district.

At this point, Coffey told the board, the savings has exceeded the guarantee by nearly $416,000. After making the $216,000 payment on the project this year, the district still has a positive cash flow of $84,000, Coffey explained.

"There's $84,000 more in our operating budget because of these projects," Coffey told the board.

The annual environmental impact of the improvements equalled taking 107 cars off the road, burning 1,354 fewer barrels of oil or preserving five acres of forest, Coffey said.

Facilities Director David Marshall told the board a new biomass boiler using locally-sourced wood chips went on line at the high school last year in Phase II of the energy retrofit.

Marshall said last winter the high school used only 17,975 gallons of heating oil, compared to 90,000 gallons in 2011.

He told the board that the new boiler attracted attention from other school districts, who had visited the high school and were now contemplating their own biomass systems.

The total cost of heating the high school, Marshall told the board, including payment on the improvement bond and purchasing oil and wood chips, was around $223,000 – almost $79,000 less than the high school's oil in 2011.

Responding to a question from a board member, Marshall explained that the district was still using oil during the "shoulder" periods while the boiler got started.

He compared the boiler to "a freight train" that took time to bring up to speed and slow down again. In the first year of operation, some bugs needed to be worked out that prevented the boiler from operating at full capacity right away, he explained.

Superintendent Rick Colpitts told the board the improvements had generated savings for the district, reduced labor and maintenance fees, impacted the environment positively and utilized local products, reducing the district's reliance on foreign oil.

Due to the success of the program, the district is looking at additional energy improvements, principally biomass boilers for five other schools.

"It's all good news folks," Colpitts said.