Energy savings from lighting and boiler upgrades at Islander Middle School and Mercer Island High School will result in a projected annual savings of $14,258 for the Mercer Island School District, according to a news release.
This number was released in a recent report from McKinstry & Company, an engineering firm contracted by the district in May 2010 to install the upgrades and track performance. Last year, the state awarded the school district an energy efficiency grant worth nearly $500,000 to offset the cost of the boiler replacements at IMS and Mercer Island High School. Lighting and boiler upgrades at MIHS are scheduled for completion this summer.
The MISD's energy efficiency program, called an "Energy Services Proposal", combined Facility Improvement Measures (FIMs) that would generate energy savings without direct input or action from facility personnel and those that would only generate energy savings if the facility strictly adhered to recommended operations and maintenance practices.
The following FIM upgrades were installed in both schools by October 2010:
- Lighting Upgrades: Replacement of metal halide high bay fixtures in the main, auxiliary, and gymnastics gymnasia with T8 lamps and occupancy sensors.
- Boiler Upgrades: This includes the existing boilers with natural gas condensing boilers totaling 6,000 MBH in capacity. This measure also included new primary circulation pumps and new boiler flues.
According to the McKinstry report, “Our pre and post survey verification tasks have confirmed that all FIMs are on track to meet or exceed their Guaranteed Energy Savings — an estimated 75,054 kWh of electricity and 7,552 therms of heating.”
“We are thrilled with this report,” said Superintendent Gary Plano. “I would especially like to thank our maintenance staff for their constant vigilance and exceptional performance in operating and maintaining our equipment.”
(Ed. Note: The following information is from a Mercer Island School District news release.)
