Timberlane Regional School District officials and contractor EEI told the school board on Oct. 17 that a major summer facilities campaign completed replacement of most rooftop air handlers, upgraded the high school roof and controls, and installed energy-recovery ventilation designed to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy use.
The report matters because the work resolves long-standing mechanical deficiencies at Timberlane High School, replaces refrigerant- and age‑outdated equipment and is intended to reduce operating costs and increase serviceability for the next two decades.
EEI representatives said the district replaced roughly two-thirds of the high school roof, removed 20-year-old rooftop units that used now‑banned R‑22 refrigerant and installed 14 larger energy-recovery units with dehumidification and a 20‑year warranty. Mike Davey, with EEI, said the new units provide 100% outdoor air and include an energy recovery wheel that preheats or precools incoming outdoor air so the building requires less heating or cooling from the boilers or coils. "On a 0 degree day," Davey said, "if you're exhausting 70-degree air out of the building, we're actually able to spin this wheel and heat the outdoor air up to about 50 degrees before we ever need that coil that has the building heat." He added the district also replaced thermostats and the building controls system that will allow remote monitoring of temperatures and CO2-based ventilation control.
Chris Roy, with EEI, described logistics: large cranes staged units on a secured field, units were prewired on the ground to shorten roof work, and access ladders were installed to reduce hazards for technicians. He said use of a 600‑ton crane enabled placement of the hardest‑to‑reach units; Dean Watson provided drone footage to document the before-and-after condition of the roof.
Board members asked about operations and maintenance. Jack asked whether the new ductwork will require the same cleaning cadence as the old system; Davey said new systems include double filter banks and are 100% outdoor-air supply, so with regular filter maintenance the ducts should need cleaning far less often, and recommended routine inspections every 12–15 years as appropriate. Davey also told the board the district can receive an annual savings report; he proposed producing a utility- and maintenance-savings summary either this December or next June to match budgeting cycles.
EEI staff summarized other summer work districtwide: radiant panels and unit replacements at the middle school, a new makeup air unit and kitchen exhaust work, replacement of single-pane storefront walls at the high school, fire‑alarm panel replacements and initiating-device upgrades at four schools, sprinkler-head replacements, lighting upgrades with occupancy/dimming controls, and masonry and waterproofing work at the historic Atkinson portion of a school building. The team said a grant application for historic‑structure repairs was submitted and that the district expects a decision around mid-November.
Discussion items that did not require board action included plans to continue window and roofing phases, sequencing of next construction phases, and coordination with administration to stage equipment deliveries and crane lifts. EEI noted that materials were ordered under the district's master lease so long‑lead items could be staged on site in advance.
Board members and staff expressed appreciation for the contractor work. There was no formal motion or vote tied to the presentation; board direction was limited to follow-up requests for the promised savings report and for ongoing scheduling updates as the next phases are planned.
Looking ahead, EEI and district staff said the high school HVAC and controls work should deliver reduced energy use and improved air quality once monitored over a full operating year, and they will bring follow-up reports and the grant outcome to the board in coming months.