Energy Program Saving Millions for Unit Five
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: October 10, 2012
NORMAL - Being energy efficient is paying off for a McLean County school district.
Unit Five initiated a long-term energy program in 2005.
It led to such things as geothermal systems at many new and existing buildings. They replaced the more traditional and more costly HVAC systems.
The program also created new building policies that restrict energy use based on whether students and teachers are present.
In other words, heating and cooling is used less after hours and during the weekends, summers and holidays.
Energy Specialist Bruce Boswell said the result seven years later is major financial and environmental savings.
Boswell said the district's carbon dioxide footprint is down and about $7 million has saved for taxpayers.
"There were some people who thought it might not pan out, but as you can see from the data in the report, we've salved over $7 million in real savings at this point in time. So a million a year? Yeah, that's a good investment," he said.
Interestingly, the savings come at the same time Unit Five is growing.
Student population is up 17% and its square footage is up 21% since 2005.
Some other buildings have yet to achieve Energy Star status, but Boswell said it's because it's not cost-effective at this time.
Unit Five initiated a long-term energy program in 2005.
It led to such things as geothermal systems at many new and existing buildings. They replaced the more traditional and more costly HVAC systems.
The program also created new building policies that restrict energy use based on whether students and teachers are present.
In other words, heating and cooling is used less after hours and during the weekends, summers and holidays.
Energy Specialist Bruce Boswell said the result seven years later is major financial and environmental savings.
Boswell said the district's carbon dioxide footprint is down and about $7 million has saved for taxpayers.
"There were some people who thought it might not pan out, but as you can see from the data in the report, we've salved over $7 million in real savings at this point in time. So a million a year? Yeah, that's a good investment," he said.
Interestingly, the savings come at the same time Unit Five is growing.
Student population is up 17% and its square footage is up 21% since 2005.
Some other buildings have yet to achieve Energy Star status, but Boswell said it's because it's not cost-effective at this time.
