Archive: News

Representatives of Tetra Tech Architects and Johnson Controls joined Lansing school board members for the beginning of the final phase of the Energy Performance project Monday.  The ground breaking ceremony celebrated the upcoming digging of 40 geothermal wells that will be used to heat and cool Lansing High School.

"It is a special day in the history of the Lansing School District as we embark upon an extensive energy performance project involving geothermal wells," said Superintendent Stephen Grimm.  "We're here today to celebrate this big step in our efforts toward a more efficient and sustainable school district.  it serves as an example to our students and community on the value of new energy resources."

Grimm said the project builds on other efforts in the community at large, as well as in the schools where student-led 'green teams' are working on projects to make the schools more energy-efficient, and to conserve resources.


While voter approval was not necessary to go forward with the project, voters did approve the project in 2008, making it eligible for an additional 10% of state aid.  Since the project was begun lighting has been updated, window film has been applied, high efficiency motors, a new boiler in the elementary school, computer network controls, and an enhanced energy management system.

The 40 wells will supply over 150 heat pumps inside the high school.  Johnson Controls' David Angelo said a geothermal system is ideal for Lansing because the town sits on a rock deposit that makes other kinds of heating more expensive. 

"Together we made a commitment to implement clean energy solutions for the district while reducing operating costs," Angelo said. "We identified a geothermal heat pump system as one of the solutions to help the schools reduce their costs."

That is expected to come to a 39% savings in the school district's utility costs.  Angelo says this is much higher than in other districts.  District officials project annual savings of 1,036,931 kilowatt hours and 45,490 natural gas therms.  Yearly emissions reductions are estimated at 1,540,108 pounds of carbon dioxide, 28 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 694 pounds of nitrogen oxide, 699 metric tons of carbon dioxide, .013 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, and .315 metric tons of nitrogen oxide.  That is the equivalent of taking 151 passenger cars off the road, 1,811,182 passenger car miles driven, 210 planted acres of trees, 79,551 gallons of gasoline, 1,625 barrels of oil, or the power it takes to run 89 homes.


School Board President Anne Drake commended Johnson Controls officials not only for the savings the project will yield the district, but for helping the district find the funding to complete the project with no additional tax impact.

We're very excited to take this progressive energy plan take shape for our students, staff, and community," said Drake.  "We are proud to stand with Superintendent Grimm and his staff as we strive for not only academic achievement, but also toward energy independence.

Grimm, school board members, and Buildings & Grounds Supervisor Glenn Fenner each took a turn breaking the ground with a golden shovel in front of a large well digging apparatus that will be actually used to dig the wells.  Board members were given hard hats and plaques commemorating the event.


"In these challenging financial times for school districts across the nation and the state, it is important to look for intelligent ways of enhancing our facilities without using additional tax dollars," Grimm said.  "In this case we're using the energy savings."

Since the project began last year the district has realized approximately $230,000.  That was enough to pay the first payment for the $4 million project.  Overall the project is estimated to save $5.6 million dollars in energy costs.

----
v6i23