Strategic decisions and investments towards going green have resulted in savings for the Knox County Public Schools.

Knox County Schools worked with Harshaw Trane to implement a variety of energy and maintenance savings techniques that are reaping major energy savings for the district after only five months of measurement and verification. The Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) implemented by Harshaw Trane included lighting retrofits and upgrades, HVAC replacement and repair, window replacements, controls repair, retrofits and installation in various buildings.

During a special called working session with Trane on August 26th,  members of the Knox County Board of Education received an update on how successful those implementations were.

“We are very pleased with the installation and first reported savings,” said Kim Merida, facilities coordinator for the school district following the report.

“The recent investments that we have made in new modern HVAC systems and other retrofits and renovations are already yielding savings for our district.”

The implementation of all energy conservation measures were predicted to bring an annual energy savings of nearly $250, 000 and annual operational savings of about $44,000. The annual environmental impact of the energy reductions are equal to 23,959 barrels of oil not burned for one year or 84 acres of forest preserved from deforestation. From February 2014 to June 2014 the total energy consumption, for electric and natural gas, was 32% less than the baseline with a cumulative energy cost avoidance of $100,828; this is 27% less than the baseline energy costs, which were adjusted for weather and energy price changes. The highest energy cost avoidance so far, was achieved at Knox Central High at $27,406 (25%) for the five-month period while Lynn Camp Elementary has saved $24,138 (47%).

“We are extremely pleased with the results so far.  Now that the technologies and upgrades have been installed, the challenge is to make sure the systems are operating at peak efficiency over the long haul,” said Ernie Tacogue, K-12 Account Manager at Harshaw Trane which addressed the Board during the special called meeting.

“The collaboration and partnership between Knox County Schools facility staff and Trane is working and the numbers thus far prove it.”

 

School	Energy Conservation Measure
Jesse D. Lay ES	New HVAC system with web-based controls
	Lighting System Retrofit and ceiling replacement
	Window Replacement
Lynn Camp ES	New HVAC system with web-based controls
	Lighting System Retrofit and ceiling replacement
Lynn Camp MS/HS	Re-commissioning and Integration of HVAC System
	Controls Repair Work
	Miscellaneous lighting retrofits and upgrades
	Fluid cooler Replacement
Knox Central HS	Re-commissioning and Integration of HVAC System
	Miscellaneous lighting retrofits and upgrades
Central ES	Integration of controls system to achieve common platform
Dewitt ES	Renovated HVAC system with web-based controls
	Lighting System Retrofit
Flat Lick ES	Miscellaneous lighting retrofits and upgrades
	Kitchen Range Hood
	Controls Retrofit
G.R. Hampton ES	New HVAC system with web-based controls
	Complete lighting system replacement
Girdler ES	Miscellaneous lighting retrofits and upgrades