MV School Board gives nod to energy audit
July 02, 2008 - 10:02 AM
by Adam Rudnick
by Adam Rudnick
With fuel costs soaring worldwide, the Mount Vernon School Board approved a proposal last week to help district buildings become more energy efficient.
Starting this summer, school buildings within the district will undergo an energy audit by Trane Inc. engineers. School officials said they hope investing the necessary $77,270 into the project will help stretch their fuel dollars further.
“The thought process is to better utilize energy tax dollars that you’re already spending,” said Scott Harbers, a member of Trane’s comprehensive solutions group.
Once the services are complete, the School Board can move forward with Trane to complete the proposed projects or keep the report and implement improvements with another contractor. The audit will be completed within 75 days, according to the agreement.
Per the audit, Trane officials would survey lights, water, boiler rooms, heating and ventilation systems and other energy-related structures at the district’s nine schools.
Each measure — whether it’s replacing a boiler room or retrofitting an exhaust fan — is rated on a scale of “1” (measures that eventually pay for themselves) to “3” (measures requiring additional funds). Most of the items listed on the proposal fall in the “1” or “2” category.
Increasing energy costs have been a major culprit to local districts’ budgets.
The Mount Vernon School Board is looking to cut nearly $1 million out of its 2008-2009 budget, while Sedro-Woolley and Burlington-Edison could see similar reductions. According to school officials, much of districts’ increased expenditures have come from rising fuel prices.
In other business, the Mount Vernon Board approved a one-year extension to Superintendent Carl Bruner’s contract. Bruner’s annual salary will be $134,919 starting this year, and will extend until June 30, 2011.
Bruner declined a 4.4 percent cost-of-living raise in favor of a 3 percent adjustment, school officials said.
