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Energy‑management review recommends Alpha audits and targeted control upgrades after King School scores in bottom 20th percentile
Summary
GHR Engineers representative Lucas McGill told the board Energy Star benchmarking shows King School scored a 6 (bottom 20th percentile) and recommended targeted control upgrades that staff estimate could be largely offset by an Ameren incentive; the board directed staff to continue audits and prioritize projects.
Lucas McGill of GHR Engineers presented a district energy‑management update that summarized recent projects and recommended next steps, including districtwide building audits by a local contractor (Alpha) and targeted control upgrades.
McGill reviewed recent capital measures—the Thomas Paine geothermal installation, photovoltaic systems and chiller replacements—and said the district has leveraged Ameren Act On Energy incentives. He summarized benchmarking results: King School scored a 6 on the Energy Star benchmarking scale, placing it in the bottom 20th percentile; Urbana Junior High scored a 17.
McGill recommended Alpha perform Energy Star audits districtwide to identify low‑hanging efficiency opportunities. For King School specifically he recommended a more sophisticated control strategy to manage outside‑air conditioning and ventilation losses. He described the estimated scope and financials in the meeting: a targeted control upgrade at King was discussed in low‑six‑figure terms (the transcript includes a garbled figure that the presenter later described in discussion as roughly $100,000–$150,000), with an Ameren incentive of $120,000 and projected annual energy savings of about $30,000. “King is really low hanging fruit in the district,” McGill said; he urged the board to prioritize that work because the incentive would cover a large portion of the cost.
Board members asked whether upgrades could be funded with Health, Life & Safety dollars; McGill said he has had success funding similar control upgrades with HLS funds in other districts and recommended Alpha audits for all buildings to inventory opportunities and establish priorities.
The board expressed support for pursuing audits and targeted upgrades that produce payback through incentives and reduced operating costs.
