District 86 Energy Program Begins to Pay for Itself

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is beginning to reap the benefits of its participation in the Energy Education program, board members were told Monday.

District Energy Education Specialist George Attaway told the school board the program has saved the district $239,850 since it began in October 2009.

“The results of the program are very encouraging right now,” Attaway said.

He noted that there were “significant start-up costs” associated with the program, but it is now about $20,000 in the black, and the district’s payments into it will cease in September 2013.

“At that particular point, you are going to realize very significant savings,” Attaway said. “There’s more to be had.”

In addition to the financial benefits, Attaway told board members the program also offered environmental benefits.

“The program, essentially, has had the effect of taking approximately 274 cars off the road, annually,” he explained, “or the benefit of planting approximately 39,000 tree seedlings.”

Light and heat

Energy Education, Inc. is a Dallas company that was founded in 1986. As of January, the firm had more than 1,100 clients in 48 states, mostly schools, large churches, and health care facilities. The company claims its customers have reported total savings of $2.2 billion.

“Our biggest savings that we’re seeing is in electricity,” Attaway said. “The lights are under much better control in the buildings than they were before.”

Board Member Dianne Barrett questioned the effectiveness of the program, noting that it had cost the district $219,584, producing a net savings of just $20,000.

“It seems like our expectations were far greater than that,” added Board Member George Kumis.

“Your expectation should be that [net savings] is only going to continue to grow,” Attaway responded.

Barrett said she would rather invest the money in more cost-effective light bulbs and said parents had complained to her about students experiencing discomfort from being too cold.

“This is not a discomfort system,” Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Wahl retorted.

Attaway said the system was designed to keep room temperatures in the heating season between 68 and 72 degrees.

“We’ve had very few complaints, as far as I know,” he said. “If we do have a problem, the first thing we do is contact the buildings and grounds people.”

If it’s a mechanical problem, Attaway observed, “they’re responsible for getting in there and getting it fixed.”

He said a student sitting next to a unit ventilator might become cold when the dampers open to collect new air.

“We’re required by state law to bring in fresh air,” he explained.

Wahl noted that Attaway is retiring.

“We’re still searching for a formidable replacement,” he said.