by Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers

As the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board enters the winter season and temperatures drop, building managers have long been at work making the district more energy efficient.

At the Monday, Nov. 28 School Board meeting, Coordinator of Facilities Mike Schwanke delivered a report on the district's energy use best practices.

He said the district has been proactive, investing in a computerized preventative maintenance program, generators at schools, and by staying on top of mechanical equipment maintenance.

The district's current initiatives include the installation of three new diesel generators bringing the total to six, 128 energy misers on vending machines, and the purchasing of energy efficient electrical equipment such as lighting systems.

These initiatives have saved the district almost $1 million annually. Schwanke says that's around 25 percent of the budget.

Schwanke said the district works in conjunction with the utility companies to find the most efficient equipment. The district also switched to a Web-based operating system about nine months ago. This allows administrators to access the database for controlling energy use via the Web, adding to efficiency.

Schwanke said they are also reviewing the current rate and rebate programs offered by their utility company. By using certain types equipment the district qualifies for rebates.

The diesel generators allow the district to get a special reduced rate as well, since diesel generators at the schools ease the energy burden on power plants. Schwanke said that generally the cost of adding these generators is insignificant compared to the savings in lower rates.

Future initiatives may include solar heating technology. Schwanke pointed to a future pilot project at Scott Highlands Middle School swimming pool that would incorporate solar panels to produce energy to heat the pool water, instead of using natural gas.

The district also is planning to conduct energy audits and review building-use policies.

All of the district's energy-saving efforts may warrant special recognition. Schwanke said he'd like to apply for the Energy Star recognition, a federal level recognition. He said this is recognition would be fairly new to the district, but it would credit the energy efficiency efforts of the district.

Schwanke hopes the district will consider hiring a full-time energy manager who understands the full capacity of the energy management software and building operations.

"Energy can be a full-time job in a district this large. I think if somebody had the time to focus on it full-time they could find even more savings,î Schwanke said.

Jeff Achen can be reached at av.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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