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BELOIT -- The West Branch Local School District will begin introducing infrastructure upgrades with an eye toward improved energy efficiency.
The upgrades are being conducted in collaboration with Trane Technologies, a "global climate innovator" that has developed and implemented each of the energy savings measures. The improvements represent "a major infrastructure upgrade" to three of the district's buildings: West Branch High School, West Branch Middle School and Damascus elementary, according to a press released issued by the district.
Once completed the upgrades "will replace outdated systems and address deferred maintenance," helping to combat rising energy and operational costs while making a more comfortable environment for students and staff. According to the release, these upgrades are expected to save the district over $200,000 annually, and will include: HVAC equipment replacement, LED lighting upgrades, and a thermal energy storage system.
Superintendent Micki Egli said that the partnership with Trane had been "truly excellent," and that Trane has been extremely responsive to any issue the district has while work is ongoing.
"They've been really great to work with. Anytime we have a problem we contact them, and they respond immediately and send a technician out to get things working properly again," said Egli.
The new system features ice tanks which will "act as a battery for a building's air conditioning system," allowing the district to shift the bulk of the electrical demand for cooling to night-time hours outside of peak service hours. The upgrades, which are already in progress and expected to be completed in early 2025, were funded with a combination of federal inflation reduction act funds, and a performance contract from Trane which enables the district to "pay for the upgrades through future reduced energy consumption and operational savings."
Egli said that the performance contract was estimated to be completed in 2025, and that the upgrades had already begun to improve temperatures within classrooms.
"Since we've been able to get everything talking to each other, we have been able to regulate the classrooms much better than before. Don't get me wrong, it has been a work in progress, but it's been a big improvement," said Egli.
In addition to improved conditions and monetary savings, the district's collaboration with Trane also sets the stage to offer "innovative hands-on STEM learning programs," moving forward to help "bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the needs of the workforce."