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Raymond board hears Data Wrangler energy-monitoring report; some members question $6,000 annual fee
Summary
Consultant Nick Kazecki presented two years of energy-monitoring results showing improved Energy Star scores and LED rebates; some board members questioned paying roughly $6,000 a year for reporting and asked administration for clearer return-on-investment data.
The Raymond #14 School District board heard a presentation July 13 from Data Wrangler representative Nick Kazecki on a year of energy monitoring and efficiency work and questioned whether the district is getting adequate return on its annual reporting fee.
Kazecki described Data Wrangler's service as a combination of field hardware and software that tracks energy use and helps staff optimize HVAC scheduling, lighting and occupancy controls. He said the district improved its Energy Star score by 16% and its weather-normalized EUI by about 8% over two years and noted LED lighting upgrades produced rebate credits to the district.
"We install a bit of hardware on the public utility, and then we have a software program that follows that information around," Kazecki said, describing the monitoring and month-to-month energy tracking.
Board members pressed for costs and precise savings. Administration said there is an annual reporting fee that amounts to roughly $6,000 per year; Kazecki and staff said that fee is one part of a broader package of savings and rebates. One board member challenged the value: "You should not pay anyone $6,000 to change light bulbs," the member said, arguing the district could handle some measures internally and asking for clearer ROI calculations.
Kazecki and staff described additional services Data Wrangler provided: isolating peak demand events (useful for kitchen equipment scheduling), identifying JACE control programming issues that required prior updates, and support with Energy Star Portfolio Manager reporting. The board asked the administration to provide more detailed return-on-investment materials and fund-50 breakdowns for the kitchen-consortium billing.
Why it matters: The district is managing tight operational budgets while looking for ways to reduce utility costs. The board will weigh whether to continue third-party monitoring and reporting based on demonstrated savings and clarity about which services are reimbursable from specific funds.
Next steps: Administration agreed to produce additional ROI and fund 50 detail for the board at a future meeting so members can evaluate continuation of the current service and possible procurement choices.
