District to finish energy audit; consultant flags lighting and offers contracting option
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Summary
The district is working with Site Logic to audit energy use across schools, review 36 months of utility data and prepare recommendations; Minnesota's clean lighting bill will require replacement of fluorescent fixtures with LEDs.
Darren Johnson, executive director of school management, told the Mounds View School Board on Oct. 7 that the district is advancing a districtwide energy audit to identify opportunities for energy savings.
Johnson said district staff are working with a consulting team from Site Logic to evaluate energy use, analyze utility bills for gas, water and electricity over the past 36 months, and produce preliminary calculations and recommendations. The district has already deployed geothermal projects at three sites, Johnson said, and the audit will help prioritize further investments to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
One area of focus is lighting. Johnson told the board that Minnesota’s clean lighting bill has banned the sale and use of fluorescent lights, so the district will need to move to LED fixtures; LED lighting is expected to use less energy and lower operating costs. The district is also using Site Logic’s facility-management software to track energy use, maintenance projects and equipment ages.
Johnson said the district will consider energy contracting — agreements with vendors that guarantee savings based on specified upgrades — after final audit recommendations are complete. No contract awards or cost estimates were announced at the meeting.
Board members did not take formal action on the audit at the meeting; Johnson concluded the update by inviting questions.