By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent
Earlier this year, the Westosha Central High school board, administration and staff worked with Nexus Solutions and Sherrer instruction to develop an energy saving improvement plan for the school.
Previous improvements upgraded facilities for energy-saving measures in lighting that have cut costs significantly, recovering the total of $461,000 before the estimated time period. Replacing old lighting systems with high-quality lights (like a metal halide led retrofit) could be one of the energy-saving measures that helped in reducing electricity expenses.
The current plan is to continue replacing and upgrading heating, ventilation, lighting, and plumbing systems. Some work was done this summer, as two restrooms near the cafeteria received a facelift. We had to ask around as well as search online (for instance, a local plumber in Port Lucie or another location) to find a perfect plumbing service for our project. A professional can offer a variety of plumbing services including plumbing installation, plumbing repair, water heater services, drain cleaning, Trenchless sewer repair, and much more!
They were gutted to the studs and all fixtures were replaced with water conservation fixtures and LED lights that provide better lighting while using less energy. Asbestos abatement work was also done and the old asbestos tiles were replaced.
Part of the exterior façade at the back of the building was replaced with an insulated metal façade. The last few single-pane windows and frames in several classrooms were replaced with energy-efficient double-paned windows.
The chillers, or air conditioners will also be replaced.
“They are over 20 years old,” district administrator Dr. Scott Pierce said in a telephone interview, “and are not as energy efficient as replacements would be.”
By spring, the only areas of the school that would not be air-conditioned are the front lobby and the gym. Piping necessary to bring the chilled air that leads to both places runs through hallways and work on that cannot be done while students are in the school.
The second phase of the project will start next year in the tech ed department. The HVAC will be upgraded and a new, insulated roof will replace the old one. The rusting metal façade will be replaced with a new insulated metal – the same kind that was put on the back exterior this year.
Several windows will be added, since there are very few now.
“It would be nice to get some natural lighting in that area,” Pierce said.
Exterior doors will be replaced. Pierce said the School Board still needs to make a decision regarding the kind of doors that will be installed.
“The doors we are looking at are energy efficient,” Pierce said, “but if we replaced them with doors that are a little more expensive, those doors would require less maintenance. Because of the finish, they would not need repainting as frequently.”
Pierce said that bids for next year’s portion of the projects would go out in February.
“We want to get started early, while the contractors are setting up their summer work,” he said. “Replacing outdated ventilation, lighting, heating, plumbing and other systems alone would save the district close to $65,000 every year, because part of the school is very old.
“The money saved could instead be used to invest in the facility rather than pay the utility company,” he added.
The district has $13.4 million in debt service, with the Nexus project at $6.5 million of that amount.
Central was originally constructed in 1952 and has had a total of six additions, the last completed in 1995. The school is more than 230,000 square feet.