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EMC says three years of Ellsworth school upgrades exceeded guaranteed energy savings
Summary
Energy-management consultants told the school board that phase‑1 and phase‑2 facility improvements — boilers, LED conversions, heat pumps, windows and building automation — outperformed guaranteed savings and generated substantial rebates, and presenters urged continued investment in phase‑3.
Tom Seekins of EMC presented a multi-year report on the district’s capital and energy-efficiency projects and said the work has both addressed failing systems and delivered savings. “We expected around $137,000 in savings, but we’ve exceeded that. And then $175,000 in rebates,” Tom said as he described boiler renovations, LED conversions and non‑proprietary controls.
Andrew Nicholas, EMC’s measurement and verification engineer, reviewed the firm’s 55‑page M&V report and said guaranteed savings were exceeded districtwide, with realized kilowatt‑hour and BTU reductions broken down by site. “Everything that is listed as guaranteed was part of the performance contract… and we outperformed the guarantee,” Nicholas said, noting site‑level kWh and BTU figures that underlie the excess savings.
Project manager John Barney outlined phase‑2 scope — gym roof and skylight repairs, window blocks, cafeteria VRF and lobby improvements, elevator modernization, sprinkler work at the HCTC and track‑lighting replacements — and described progress and remaining tasks. He said most phase‑2 work should be complete before students return and emphasized life‑safety upgrades at HCTC, including a new sprinkler main, updated fire panel and elevator mechanical work.
Board members and administration highlighted that much of the nearly $4 million in work was covered by performance savings, rebates and state revolving funds and required little or no increase to the district’s annual operating budget. The presentation also showed STEM program tie‑ins: EMC staff and district teachers have run STEM camps that brought energy concepts into classrooms.
