Board weighs heating and cooling options after Cornell restricts LakeSource expansion

Ithaca City School District officials briefed the board on options to cool and heat Ithaca High School after Cornell University told the district it could not expand the campus’s LakeSource cooling service to cover additional building space.

Chris (district architect/consultant) summarized four comparative options for completing high-school cooling: (1) add 600 tons of capacity to supplement Cornell’s 400‑ton LakeSource allocation (traditional cooling tower plus gas boilers); (2) install a 1,000‑ton district system that would make the high school independent of LakeSource; (3) a ground‑source heat‑pump (GSHP) system sized to supplement LakeSource and also serve Boynton Middle School; and (4) a large GSHP system to serve both buildings independent of LakeSource.

The first‑cost estimates showed the traditional cooling‑tower approach had the lowest upfront price; the GSHP options carried higher initial construction costs. A 30‑year life‑cycle analysis presented by the consultant found the GSHP option that supplements LakeSource and adds Boynton could produce net savings over three decades (the presentation cited roughly $435,000 in net life‑cycle savings for that scenario) while also reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions relative to a fossil‑fuel‑based heating approach.

The district’s presenter warned the analysis is sensitive to energy‑price assumptions (electricity versus natural gas) and to the many modeling inputs; officials noted they used industry tools and conservative assumptions but said escalation in costs and market changes could alter outcomes. The briefing also included a note that Cornell’s LakeSource system currently supplies up to 400 tons under an easement agreement and that state Department of Environmental Conservation permitting has limited Cornell’s ability to expand the LakeSource service to additional customers.

Board members discussed the trade‑offs among first cost, life‑cycle cost, and environmental impact. Board member Todd suggested asking Cornell whether it would pay the district to return capacity (i.e., for the district to exit LakeSource reliance) or to otherwise compensate the district if Cornell needs the additional cooling capacity. Several members said they favored keeping LakeSource as part of a hybrid plan and adding geothermal wells sized to serve both Ithaca High School and Boynton Middle School; others urged speed because construction decisions on the high‑school mechanical systems are already unfolding and contractors need direction.

Administrators said the decision is time‑sensitive because mechanical design and bids are already in progress; contractors have been working under assumptions tied to LakeSource, and changing systems will require revisions. The board agreed to continue the discussion and asked staff to collect follow‑up information — including any potential financial arrangements with Cornell, updated escalation estimates for material and energy costs, and additional greenhouse‑gas comparatives — and to reconvene in committee and at the April 22 meeting for direction on whether to include a specific HVAC approach in a possible December capital project ballot.

Ending: Board members expressed interest in prioritizing environmental impact while balancing long‑term costs and directed staff to return with updated numbers and options before a final design direction is chosen.