News/Press

Conserving energy yields $1 million for district By John Schultz Staff Writer Posted: Dec. 26, 2006 WEST ALLIS - Saving big bucks when it comes to energy costs is a matter of teaching people to think differently, according to West Allis-West Milwaukee School District Energy Manager Mike Mangan. That philosophy has resulted in the school district saving more than $1.2 million in the past two years, Mangan said. "We've shifted from a mindset of leaving things on to turning them off," he said. "We are using aggressive conservation measures." Two years ago the district formed a partnership with Energy Education Inc., a national energy conservation company. The four-year contract calls for Energy Education to receive $175,200 a year. The firm promises savings with no capital costs. "We have experts who go to the districts and work with the energy managers," said Jan Noel-Smith, the firm's director of public relations. "They examine everything and come up with a plan. We're conserving resources for education." In fact, School District Business Manager Scott Ecker said the $175,000 plus Mangan's salary of about $49,000 has come out of savings the district previously paid to utilities. The energy saving program revolves around turning off computers and lights when they are not in use, lowering building temperatures at night or when buildings are not in use and scheduling the use of buildings efficiently, so heat and air conditioning can be cut back. Heating, cooling tweaked Thermostats are set at 55 degrees at night and weekends and holidays, Mangan said. Buildings are allowed to cool off. That is more efficient than lowering temperatures just a little when buildings are not in use. The bulk of the $1.2 million in energy savings did not involve expensive investments. "Conservation doesn't cost money," Mangan said. "It's about changing attitudes and people." To illustrate how important scheduling can be, Mangan pointed out a lone two-hour event at a school during air conditioning season cost the district $6,000. On the other hand, the district has saved money by having two district basketball teams consolidate their practice sessions into one building. Previously, the district air conditioned buildings from April through October. Savings were obtained by cutting back the air conditioning season from seven to five months. Mangan said that could be done while maintaining the comfort level during school hours. He explained this could be done by using the ventilation system to pre-cool parts of school buildings in the early morning hours. Small changes pay off "The ripe fruit of energy savings" is what Mangan called the conservation measures that have been used in the school system. Those savings have been applied to more extensive energy saving measures. "We have 17 buildings that are 25 to 75 years old," Mangan said. "Not everything functions like it should." Other improvements and energy-saving measures the district has instituted: • "Happy lights," or full-spectrum lighting, which has not resulted in energy savings, make classrooms more pleasant and provide a better learning atmosphere, Mangan said. Full-spectrum lighting is more like natural daylight. • Boilers are in the process of being replaced or repaired over a period of years to increase the efficiency of the units. • With the addition of a pool cover at Nathan Hale High School, all district swimming pools, with the exception of West Milwaukee Middle School, which is too small for a cover, now have covers to keep in the heat. • The addition of flush valves on urinals at Hoover Elementary School has resulted in a savings of $1,000 a month on the water bill. They no longer flush at regular intervals automatically. • Mangan said he was able to retrofit some new lighting into existing fixtures in the Hale gym. That was a $50,000 project done for $10,000. "It will have a six-month payback," he said. "A six-year payback is considered reasonable and anything under three years, good. The fun part is seeing results." By the numbers 20 years Energy Education Inc. has been in business 785 customers served during that time 1 billion total dollars in energy savings