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Teachers report discomfort after new energy-management system rollout; district says technicians are troubleshooting
Summary
After moving into the new high school building, teachers and staff reported heating and cooling discomfort tied to a recently installed energy-management (HVAC controls) system. Facilities staff said most systems are functional, identified trouble spots and said the controls vendor is assisting to resolve remaining issues.
BIXBY — Teachers and office staff across multiple sites told facilities managers they were uncomfortable with temperatures after the district’s new energy-management (air-conditioning control) system came online. Facilities staff and the board discussed the issue at the Jan. 16 meeting and said technicians are investigating and making adjustments.
Gabe Hayes, director of facilities, said most new controls are operating and the district is working through a list of isolated problems, including controls that are not communicating and a west-campus room with an unusually high airflow at startup. “We have found solutions to that,” Hayes said, adding that Nabholz and the controls vendor have been responsive and that some parts are pending arrival.
Board members and several staff members said complaints have come from both classrooms and office areas, with a number of front-office staff reporting they felt cold. Hayes said the system uses setpoints with a small variance (typically plus-or-minus two degrees) and that achieving a single temperature that pleases every occupant is unlikely, but the district will revisit setpoints and make adjustments.
Superintendent Rob Miller and facilities staff stressed that the district is not attempting to save money by making rooms colder and that the system is intended to be more efficient. Hayes said extreme outdoor temperatures can reveal additional equipment issues and that the district will schedule vendor support and continue daily troubleshooting until the system stabilizes.
The board requested continued updates to staff and said it will arrange for vendor representatives to answer questions if problems persist.
