Systems & services
• Energy audit
• Building assessment
• Three-phase
performance
contract
• New chillers, rooftop
units, air handlers,
cooling towers,
boilers, unit
ventilators and heat
pumps
• Mechanical systems
commissioning/
recommissioning
• Trane Tracer ES™
and DDC controls
• Trane VFDs
• Interior/exterior
lighting controls
• Water conservation
upgrades
Lakota Schools and Trane have entered into a
three-phase multi-million dollar facilities
upgrade project that will save the school district
$667,000 in annual energy costs and more than
$260,000 in annual operating costs. As a result
of energy efficient facilities upgrades, Lakota
Schools will receive an additional $382,000 in
rebates from the utility company, Duke Energy.
Lakota Schools has been awarded the Trane
Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award,
recognizing the district for their commitment
to energy efficiency and environmental
responsibility.
Lakota Schools comprises twenty-five buildings
including fourteen elementary schools, four
junior high schools, two freshmen schools and
two high schools, the Options Academy and the
central office/service building. The buildings
range in age from two to eighty-two years with
many requiring new mechanical systems,
upgraded lighting, windows and other
improvements. The school district wanted to
explore ways to upgrade building systems for
better comfort, reliability, maintainability and
efficiency while improving the learning and
teaching environment.
Lakota Schools partnered with Trane for a
comprehensive solution. LEED-accredited Trane
energy engineers performed energy audits and
building assessments, analyzed the findings and
provided Lakota Schools with cost-justified,
ROI-based actionable recommendations. Trane
account managers accompanied the building
maintenance superintendent in presenting the
project proposal to the school board. The
projects are being funded by the energy and
operating savings generated by the upgrades in
a performance contract that is guaranteed by
the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
Projects include:
• Mechanical and control system improvements
in nine schools. Upgrades will be completed per
the district’s long range capital plan in the next
five years.
• Thirteen buildings will get plumbing retrofits
for reduced water consumption. All schools will
get lighting upgrades, from minimal gym
lighting improvements to complete lighting
retrofits. Other electrical improvements range
from installing vending misers in all schools to
installing Trane TR Series variable frequency
drives (VFDs) on motors at nine buildings where
major HVAC improvements are under way.
• Improvements at the five newest schools
include advanced scheduling and
re-commissioning of HVAC controls, installation
of vending misers, lighting control upgrades and
exterior lighting retrofits.
• A Tracer ES™ building automation system
provides monitoring and control of all facilities
from one computer. Old pneumatic control
systems were converted to new DDC systems.
Other significant projects include installation of
high efficiency chillers and boilers, and cooling
tower retrofits.
Phase One results have already exceeded
savings projections by 15 percent, equal to
$35,000 in savings over the original projections.
Overall energy and operating cost savings are
expected to be $927,000 per year. Mike Taylor,
Lakota Schools Superintendent, said, "It’s great
in these tight budgetary times that we are able
to improve the teaching and learning
environment while generating energy and
operational savings. Because we are able to pay
for the improvements through these savings, we
can focus our capital budget on other needs in
the district."
Located in southwestern Ohio, Lakota is the seventh largest school
district in the state, and the largest school district in Butler County.
With two high schools, two freshman schools, four junior schools, ten
elementary schools and four early childhood schools, Lakota has grown
in the last twenty years from a rural district to a suburban district with
more than 18,000 students.