NESHAMINY - The school district is looking to save millions
of dollars by renovating a number of buildings to be more energy efficient.
The renovations would include: new roofs, windows, lighting,
HVAC systems and electrical wiring.
At the school board’s June 3 public work session, Reynolds
Energy Services gave a 20-minute presentation to the school board about
renovating the district’s schools to save energy costs, as well as keep the
buildings operating for another two decades.
The Harrisburg-based construction-management company
specializes in energy efficiency, and has upgraded a number of school buildings
in the state, according to company president Richard Evans.
“High energy savings can help pay for the project,” he said,
explaining that such renovations can be turned around quickly without hardly
any disruptions to classes.
According to Evans, each building can save $150,000-$200,000
in energy costs, and once a building is being upgraded there are no ‘change
orders’ which can drive up the initial price tag.
For example, he indicated that upgrading Hoover Elementary
School would cost around $8 million, with an anticipated energy savings of
about $150,000.
If nothing is done, it would cost an estimated $12.4 million
to operate Hoover over the next 20 years.
According to the company, the energy-saving renovations would
best be suited to Hoover and Ferderbar Elementary Schools, as well as
Poquessing and Carl Sandburg Middle Schools.
In addition, all the buildings receiving the energy upgrade
would be fitted for air conditioning.
Evans also said that his company guarantees the costs of
renovations as well the energy savings, or Reynolds will pay the district the
difference in energy costs.
Under state law, because these proposed upgrades are an Act
39 energy-savings project Neshaminy could contract with Reynolds without having
to put the work out for public bid. However, larger renovation projects would
have to go out for bids.
The school board appeared interested in using Reynolds for
renovating the district’s schools, but also decided to request Act 39 proposals
from other companies.
Board member Steve Pirritano said that he supports the idea,
noting that “this program has the best chance of savings.”
The Ad Hoc Facilities Committee, which Pirritano chairs, has
yet to vote on any overall district-wide renovation plan, but the committee had
recommended that the school board look at the energy-savings policy.
Resident Steve Rodos of Langhorne urged the committee to
vote soon, instead of just talking about retrofitting aging school buildings.
“We’ve entered a state of paralysis by analysis,” he
exclaimed. “For the last 10 years we haven’t had anything to show for our
analysis.”
Source: Bucks
Local News
No comments:
Post a Comment