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Facilities Reports Energy Savings, Chiller Replacement, Vacant‑Building Costs and UWMC Campus Coordination
Summary
Facilities reported energy procurement steps to lock in gas prices for most 2025 volumes, ongoing HVAC balancing with a projected 13‑month ROI, and early estimates of vacant‑building carrying costs and dorm demolition pricing.
Facilities staff presented a quarterly update on energy procurement, equipment work and holding costs for vacant county properties, and briefed the committee on ongoing coordination with University of Wisconsin–Marathon County (UWMC) campus leadership.
On energy strategy, staff said they locked in approximately 75% of a 12‑month natural gas strip at about $3.94 per therm (the lower end of a $3.90–$4.50 forecast) to stabilize budget exposure; 25% of volumes remain on market pricing. Facilities reported that recent HVAC renovations and equipment balancing have reduced gas consumption and that additional balancing work (phase 2) should yield further savings.
Staff described a focused balancing service with an estimated return on investment of about 13 months after counting focus‑on‑energy incentives. For the library, a new chiller reduced water usage and produced immediate water‑bill savings; staff will complete a net analysis comparing higher electric use against reduced water costs.
On vacant buildings, facilities estimated holding utilities for River Drive and Thomas Street properties at roughly $50,000 per year (combined) and estimated annual vacant‑property insurance coverage at about $13,500 given the county eductible. For demolition of the UWMC dormitory, staff said the dorm fund balance is about $171,000 but that demolition estimates range widely; a high‑level estimate provided in the meeting was roughly $15 per square foot and could approach $750,000–$1,000,000 given site constraints.
Staff also reported attending state facilities conferences and flagged the state's adoption of the 2021 International Building Code and recent EPA rules on refrigerants; both will affect procurement, training and future capital projects. Facilities said they are meeting with UWMC staff on campus exit plans and are compiling updated architectural records and square footage data to inform future design and redevelopment work.
The committee requested a future report breaking out electric (kilowatt‑hour) savings resulting from chiller and balancing work; facilities said they will provide a full energy‑savings analysis when the phase‑2 work is complete.
