The Tonganoxie School District has made a special commitment to energy efficiency - it is partnering with TRANE to improve its building infrastructure and it is using those improvements to educate students throughout the process.
The Tonganoxie School District is making needed improvements to District buildings to save costs and to improve energy efficiency. This creates an even better learning environment for the elementary, middle and high school students. The upgrades are estimated to result in efficiency increases of up to 27 percent. The overall savings in operations, maintenance and utilities from the facility improvements are projected to be $217,000 annually.
The District elected to enter into a performance contract, which is a self-funding package of products and services customized to building requirements to deliver significan energy and operating cost reductions. Improvements, already underway, will be completed in September 2009. The $2.1 million project is projected to be funded through savings realized via the performance contract, with a projected payback of 15 years or less. Those savings are projected to rise to more than $6.2 million over the system's predicted lifespan.
Facility Improvements include:
High-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve indoor air quality, increase ventilation and raise classroom thermal comfort.
High performance lighting systems to provide optimal lighting.
Low-flow water fixtures to conserve water and reduce sewage.
Additional cameras, digital video recorders and monitors to enhance student and staff safety.
Bus route automation software to increase bus transportation efficiency and student safety.
A District-wide building automation system which enable operations staff to centrally control the HVAC systems to optimize energy and operational efficiencies while improving classroom comfort.
Developing a long-range strategic master plan for the district with the services of an educational consultant.
"We are already investing in infrastructure improvements in our District's buildings. These are important to creating the ideal learning environment and saving operating costs. We also wanted an educational way to help students understand the improvements we are making and follow the project through its lifecycle"
Superintendent Kyle Hayden speaks at National School Building Expo in Chicago, IL
School Building Expo 2010 brought together architects, designers, educational facility planners, construction managers and manufacturers for 3 days of educational sessions, keynote presentations, exhibits, networking opportunities and tours. School Building Expo is co-located with College Building Expo and is the official spring meeting of the AIA's Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE).
On May 12th, Kyle Hayden conducted a conference session titled "Curriculum Community Facility: Keys to Creating a High Performance Learning Environment". Mr. Hayden brought his Districts improvements to a National Stage, talking about High Performance Learning Environment improvements at Tonganoxie as well as the process of bringing those improvements into the classroom and the community with The BTU Crew curriculum.
Tonganoxie Awarded Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education
When administrators at Tonganoxie Unified School District (USD) 464 embarked on a $2.1 million energy and infrastructure improvement effort last year, they took the project into the classroom, coupling upgrades to buildings with an energy efficiency curriculum. The recently completed infrastructure upgrades are expected to save $217,000 a year in operations, maintenance and utilities costs.
On March 10, 2010 administrators at Tonganoxie USD 464 received the Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award for their sustainable energy and operational efficiency improvements. The award recognizes the importance of the upgrades and the administrators commitment to optimizing the teaching and learning environment while increasing energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
The award ceremony was held at Tonganoxie Middle School and Principal Dr. Jill Dickerson was the Master of Ceremonies. Ceremony music was provided by the seventh- and eighth-grade jazz band and the eighth-grade girls choir. Kyle Hayden, USD 464 Superintendent, talks briefly about the project and Trey Fruge, Trane District Manager, congratulates the district by presenting the Middle School with bulbs to plant around their building on Earth Day.
Video of Dr. Jill Dickerson introducing the project and Trey Fruge, Trane District Manager
Video of Keven Ward and Superintendent Kyle Hayden
Tonganoxie Wins Governor Parkinson's Energy Achievement Award
On Wednesday, October 7th, Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson presented the Governor's Energy Achievement Recognition Awards at the 2009 Kansas Wind and Renewable Energy Conference. The awards, given annually, recognize leadership and accomplishment in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
"It is inspiring to witness Kansans taking the initiative to capture our state's renewable energy potential," said Parkinson. "These award winners understand the economic and environmental benefits of investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and I thank them for their leadership".
All sixth grade students in the Tonganoxie Middle School took part in a special program called The BTU Crew, a Trane Energy Efficiency program for buildings, in order to learn more about the improvements going on around them. At the same time, students were introduced to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that are fun and can make positive contributions to the environment. The six week course was delivered by Erin Rau, control sales engineer from Trane.
Over the course of the 6 weeks, students conducted experiments on thermal insulation, flourescent light bulbs and energy transformations. Using Trane Energy Analyzer Software, students conducted a preliminary energy audit on their school, and completed the course writing letters to local and State Legislators discussing their findings. On May 22nd a group of students took those letters to Topeka and met with Gov Mark Parkinson and other State Officials to discuss the importance of Energy Efficiency in their school and their community.
