Consultant will conduct energy study of schools

Sisters High School is expensive to heat. photo by Jim Cornelius A Portland engineer will analyze the efficiency of energy use at Sisters Elementary School and Sisters High School in hopes of achieving savings. On the recommendation of Superintendent Ted Thonstad, the school board at its last meeting (November 8) unanimously authorized the two studies at a cost not to exceed $4,925 each.

In an e-mail cover letter endorsing the study proposals, Thonstad told board members: "With the rising cost of energy, it is critical to look for ways to reduce these costs."

The proposals came from Bill Clumpner, who operates Integrated Energy Services Inc. (IES) of Portland. Thonstad explained that "IES is the firm that I used in Condon (where Thonstad was superintendent for three years before coming to Sisters) for energy-related projects. Because of the data obtained...we were able to make changes in the original design (of the elementary school) for the purpose of reducing energy use/cost by 40 percent.

"We also increased building comfort and improved the efficiency of the existing equipment. My experience with Bill is that the district will get a value that far exceeds the cost."

The board had expressed its concern with elementary school energy use just a month before.

At its October meeting, the board approved a priority list of uses of proceeds from the sale of the Lundgren Mill property, if and when that site is sold. The list was produced by a management team that included the principals of all three schools.

The number one priority that emerged from their discussion was improving "heating, ventilation and air conditioning throughout the elementary school," at an estimated cost of $185,000.

Clumpner's own memo to the board predicted that the school "could reduce its electric energy costs 25 to 40 percent through a comprehensive focus on energy efficiency control and future retrofit of existing systems. Based on latest 12-month electric costs of $30,096, the 25-40 percent savings translates into a range...of $7,525 to $12,038."

While the elementary building dates from the late 1970s, the high school building was opened only a year ago. Nonetheless, officials have found the school to be more of a Hummer than a Honda in its appetite for heating oil.

Clumpner's memo says: "Based on data provided to IES, the high school is using 39 percent more heating oil than estimated in the energy model (that was used to design the system)."

The consultant says he will use consumption data from the high school to compile an Energy Use Index (EUI) that will make possible energy use-per-square-foot comparisons with similar high schools in Oregon. "The purpose of this comparison will be to establish if the EUI for the high school is above average. Because of the number of unknowns (ventilation air flow) and variables (unit cost for heating oil) at this point, it is difficult to estimate annual energy savings."

However, if the school "can be heated for the oil consumption estimate in the (original energy model, 21,876 gallons), it would be a reduction of 14,070 gallons from 2003-04 data (35,945 gallons). At $1.30 per gallon, the reduction would equal an annual oil cost savings of $18,290."

A third Clumpner proposal, also authorized by the board, will have him "provide diplomatic input" on HVAC system efficiency issues that arise in the anticipated conversion of the former middle school building into the district's headquarters.