Green Schools

California District Launches $3 Million Energy Retrofit

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 12/02/14

California's Rescue Union School District (RUSD) has launched a $3 million initiative to improve the energy efficiency of school facilities.

The school is partnering with energy services company Noresco to install lighting upgrades and controls projected to save the district $3.8 million over the life of the equipment. With partial funding provided by the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, seven k-8 schools serving approximately 4,000 students will be upgraded, making the district "one of the first in California to upgrade lighting to LED technology throughout its facilities," according to a news release.

Aside from cost savings, benefits of the project " include standardization across interior and exterior lighting equipment, long-term reductions to operating budgets for more predictable planning, upgrades and consistency across building controls systems for improved efficiency, and replacement of selected heating, ventilating and air-conditioning components that are failing or unreliable," according to information released by the district.

"By committing to these kinds of sizable, deep retrofits, Rescue Union is taking the commitment to energy efficiency to the next level, which benefits students, teachers and staff," said Rob Reading, account executive at NORESCO, in a prepared statement. "These improvements position the school system for classroom improvements, reduced maintenance requirements and long-term cost savings."