Williamsville Central School District begins energy efficiency project

The New York Power Authority and the Williamsville Central School District have partnered on an $8.7 million energy efficiency project, at all 13 of the districts' educational facilities. The project, part of the Power to Schools program, is expected to save the school district $520,000 annually.

"Conserving energy is a great way to cut operating expenses and sustain essential services," said Timothy S. Carey, NYPA president and CEO. "NYPA's Power to Schools program helps districts like Williamsville to make more efficient use of electricity, reduce their energy bills and use more of their tax dollars to educate their students."

The Power to Schools program, authorized by state law, enables NYPA to assist public and private elementary and secondary schools in managing energy costs through energy efficiency and shopping for the economical power in the competitive marketplace for electricity.

"The Williamsville Central School District is proud to be working with NYPA on the energy-efficiency projects slated to begin shortly throughout the district," said Superintendent Howard S. Smith. "We contacted NYPA in the fall of 2005 about exploring ways to cut our energy costs. When we learned about the Power to Schools Program, we began working with NYPA to develop a program that would meet the unique needs of our school district."

Energy audits conducted by NYPA identified several energy-saving measures within the school district's 13 schools. They include:

+ Upgrade of less efficient incandescent lighting with T-8 fluorescent lights and electronic ballasts.

+ Retrofit of exit signs that utilize incandescent or fluorescent lighting with LED technology.

+ Installation of carbon-dioxide sensors to optimize the outside air volume brought into buildings, reducing the volume of conditioned air that is exhausted.

+ Replacement of air dampers and actuators to better control air flowing into and out of the buildings.

+ Replacing all steam traps at South High, Dodge Elementary and Maple East Elementary schools to protect the boiler equipment from damage, maximize the use of the steam, and improve space temperature control.

+ Replacement of old inefficient boilers at South High School and Country Parkway Elementary school.

+ Installation of an Energy Management System at South High School to better control heating, cooling and ventilation.

+ Connecting the perimeter heating loop at the East High School with the heat pump loop. The connection will allow the building to maximize the use of the most efficient boiler when outdoor temperatures are mild.

+ Installation of a small capacity chiller at the Transit Middle School to prevent having to cool the entire building when in limited use.

+ Installing automatic swimming pool covers.

Overall project costs will be financed through NYPA's energy services program, allowing the school district to avoid up-front expenses and repay the financing costs over several years through a portion of its energy bill savings.

The New York Power Authority has completed 1,500 energy efficiency projects in government buildings across New York State since 1990, saving almost $96 million in energy costs per year and reducing electricity consumption by some 912,000 megawatt-hours (mWh) annually.