Green Schools

Oregon District To Save $132,000 Annually with Energy Upgrades

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 12/09/14

Oregon's South Lane School District has agreed to a $2.1 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) designed to reduce energy costs by approximately $132,000 each year.

The agreement, with Ameresco, will guarantee the savings and upgrade eight schools and five support buildings. In preparation for the upgrades, the company audited the buildings, comprising almost 480,000 square feet of space, for energy efficiency. The buildings include:

• Bohemia Elementary School;
• Cottage Grove High School;
• A district service center;
• Dorena Elementary School;
• Harrison Elementary School;
• Kennedy Alternative High School;
• Latham Elementary School;
• Lincoln Middle School;
• London Elementary School;
• The district maintenance shop;
• Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center;
• The district transportation building; and
• A maintenance warehouse.

In addition to the annual savings, "the district expects to leverage the energy savings of the project to secure approximately $127,470 in utility incentives from Lane Electric and Emerald People's Utility District, and $439,000 in Senate Bill 1149 funding," according to a news release.

"Partnering with Ameresco is enabling the district to fund the much needed infrastructure upgrades and innovative energy saving projects in 13 of our facilities without incurring additional capital cost to our taxpayers," said Krista Parent, superintendent at South Lane, in a prepared statement. "The project, underway since August of this year, is improving the performance of our buildings and lowering our operating costs, while also supporting our sustainability initiatives by reducing our carbon footprint."