Systems & services
• HVAC systems
upgrades for better
efficiency, improved
IAQ and better
comfort control
• Trane donated a
Tracer Summit™
building automation
system (BAS)
• Phillips Lighting
donated new,
high-efficiency light
bulbs to cut light
energy use by nearly
half
Gypsum, Kansas -- It was the students at
Southeast of Saline (SES) school district who
envisioned and promoted high performance
upgrades in their district to initiate a $1.4
million infrastructure improvement effort that is
projected to cut energy consumption by at least
21 percent, saving about $83,000 per year in
energy and operating costs. Just as importantly,
the project has improved the learning and
teaching environment and has served to build
student interest in science, technology,
engineering and math.
A few years ago the students at SES developed
an interest in conservation and learning what
they could do to help preserve and improve the
environment. This interest led to the creation of
a leadership class and a "Going Green Club,"
plus the "BTU Crew" which is an energyefficiency
curriculum developed by Trane to
educate students on how to make
buildings--and their own homes--more energy
efficient. Initial efforts included a paper
recycling program. Then the students began
studying energy use at their school and what
could be done to save energy. They
recommended replacing about 10,000 light
bulbs with new high-efficiency bulbs that would
nearly halve the energy use. They also
recommended replacing the school’s old HVAC
equipment with new, high efficiency units from
Trane. In fact, the Class of 2009 indicated that
one of the Top Ten reasons they were ready to
graduate from high school was due to the old
ineffective and inefficient air conditioning.
Impressed by commitment of their students to
improving their school’s performance, the SES
district leaders put into action a plan to make
the infrastructure improvements. Facing tough
budgets, the school board used a creative
approach to finance the $1.4 million in
improvements using a performance contract
under the state’s Facility Conservation
Improvement Program that uses guaranteed
savings in energy and operating costs to pay for
the project. SES worked with Trane on HVAC
improvements to improve efficiency, indoor air
quality and thermal comfort. Trane also donated
a new Tracer Summit™ building automation
system (BAS) to help optimize HVAC comfort
and efficiency. Philips Lighting donated 4,000
high-efficiency bulbs for the lighting
improvement portion of the project.
The HVAC and lighting improvements are
expected to save SES about $83,000 per year
($29,657 in guaranteed energy savings and
$53,953 in operating and maintenance costs)
over the fifteen year performance contract.
Savings are being validated and verified by
International Performance Measurement
Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Option A
Calibrated Simulation and Option D Stipulated
Savings. Dr. Justin Henry, SES Superintendent,
said, "Upgrades will benefit both student
learning and the environment while saving the
district money. Although we cannot measure the
health, academic and environmental benefits of
these improvements in monetary terms, they
represent significant outcomes."
Lindsey Lockhart, a student at SES and a
Leadership Class 101 member, said, "Thanks to
our school administration and board of
education, we were able to make our ideas
about energy conservation and waste
management a reality. We are showing the
future SES students ways that they can be a part
of the Going Green movement."
Southeast of Saline USD 306 includes more than 700 students with all
grades located in a single, 151,000 square-foot building. The school is
located near Salina, Kansas, five miles west of Gypsum.