subject: School District in Colorado Spends Over $8 Million Dollars for Renovations to Ensure Maximum Safe & Sound Sustainability for the Next Generation [print this page] School District in Colorado Spends Over $8 Million Dollars for Renovations to Ensure Maximum Safe & Sound Sustainability for the Next Generation
Mesa County Valley School District 51 spent a whopping $8.63 million dollars to renovate the 47 buildings in their district. Their mission was to upgrade and optimize their overall efficiency. These buildings, which average at about 38 years old, were in desperate need of a 21st century overhaul. The goal was to bring these schools up to date with new environmentally sound technologies that would maximize and sustain their overall efficiency.
Although $8.63 million dollars is a lot of money, the benefits and rewards will be accumulative long into the future of Grand Junction Colorado. The overall strategy was designed to deliver a sustainable efficiency savings, which is estimated to bring a $617,000 cut annually in the energy costs of operating the buildings in this School District.
District 51 is the 12th largest School District in the State of Colorado and their 3,000 member staff is responsible for around 21,000 students. There are many additional benefits which will help to offset the massive $8.63 million spent to renovate these buildings and have been calculated into the long-term equation.
Over the next five years these new building renovations are projected to save and additional $390,000; which is directly associated to building maintenance and operations spanning throughout the Mesa County Valley School District. The renovations are projected to reduce the consumption of 100,000 therms of natural gas and 5.6 million KWh of electricity every year.
After a very thorough energy study conducted in February 2009, it was decided that the initial focus should be on renovating the old, and often in need of repair, lighting infrastructure within the buildings. Implementing an energy efficient system throughout the old buildings would prove to be the most immediate beneficial reward and savings return strategy. New highly efficient lighting systems were installed, which are designed to save energy consumption and provide an improved superior illumination output. These environmentally responsible upgrades and proactive implementations saved District 51 $1.1 million dollars through XCEL side management rebates.
Old electric ovens were seen being replaced in the kitchens with new high efficiency stoves that use natural gas to operate. An overhaul to the heating and HVAC systems was needed to not only provide maximum efficiency while maintaining minimal energy consumption, but to also improve the overall air quality within the buildings and classrooms. The energy efficient automated systems installed are designed to further save energy by maintaining a more consistent level of temperature throughout the older buildings.
Mesa County Valley School District 51 started off the New Year in January 2010 by receiving the "Healthiest Companies of America Award" from the Interactive Health Solutions (HIS). The award was to honor District 51's commitments for the health and well being of their employees and for their proactive approach and support systems encouraging preventive health care.
Recently they have again been complimented; this time with the Trane's "Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award" that they received on May 03, 2010. They received the award for their new sustainable environmentally responsible installations and the improved energy conservation strategies that they have implemented throughout their District.
This summer the renovations continue moving forth with the project of installing new solar skylights and electrical technology. The students will appreciate the improved lighting in their laboratory classrooms when they return in the fall and it will be just as much appreciated by the schools operating budget. So, overall it appears that District 51 is taking a worthwhile and proactive path by implementing some very necessary upgrades. These upgrades are filled with environmentally responsible strategies that will be felt long into the future of Mesa County Valley, Colorado.
