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Facilities director: energy optimization saved about $1.1 million over five years; LED upgrades planned
Summary
Lake Central facilities staff reported nearly $1.1 million in avoided energy costs since 2019, 7.15 million kWh conserved, and described recent meter installations and planned LED upgrades funded partly by NIPSCO grants.
Lake Central's director of facilities reported to the board on Oct. 6 that the district's energy optimization efforts have yielded nearly $1.1 million in cost avoidance over the past five years and conserved about 7.15 million kilowatt-hours.
Director Mr. Ledger said the district installed data meters at several sites (the high school, Protsman, Bibich and Grimmer) to identify nightly spikes and usage patterns. He described a specific example: nighttime pool-cleaning routines and non-LED lighting at the high school that were producing repeated overnight spikes; staff adjusted cleaning procedures and lighting banks to reduce spikes. Ledger said the district's blended blended electricity rate is roughly 18'24 cents per kWh and noted diminishing returns as the program matures.
Ledger told the board the district received a NIPSCO grant that paid for lighting upgrades in the high school and freshman center common areas; labor was the district's responsibility. He said the district is pursuing a similar grant to change classroom lighting from fluorescent to LED, work that will likely occur over winter break and at night because of occupied classrooms. Ledger said they plan to order the lights in the next few weeks and continue monitoring usage with meters.
Board members praised the staff for engaging custodians and other employees in the optimization effort and for pursuing grant funding to reduce upgrade costs.
No formal board action was required; the board received the update.
