California District Launches $3 Million Energy Retrofit -- THE Journal

Green

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."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

New OpenAI Agent Turns ChatGPT into a Research Analyst

OpenAI has unveiled a new "Deep Research" feature that enhances ChatGPT with the capabilities of a "research analyst" that automates time-consuming research by retrieving, analyzing, and synthesizing online information.
What AI Gets Right and How It Will Be Used in the Year Ahead

AI has tremendous potential to do good in education while honoring and upholding the essential role of teachers. However, its success will depend on how we choose to use it.
New Platform Combines Content Filtering, Classroom Management, Device Management Tools

Ed tech, remote access, and cybersecurity solution provider Ativion has introduced StudentKeeper, an all-in-one platform that encompasses digital safety management, filtering, and reporting tools for supporting and protecting students.
Report Highlights Security Concerns of Open Source AI

In these days of rampant ransomware and other cybersecurity exploits, security is paramount to both proprietary and open source AI approaches — and here the open source movement might be susceptible to some inherent drawbacks, such as use of possibly insecure code from unknown sources.