Lake Local Schools Exceeds Energy Savings Projections

Posted on 1/13/2015

(Uniontown, Ohio) November 24, 2014 – In 2012 Lake Local Schools began investigating options for the repair/replacement of a failed control system in their High School Complex which was creating numerous comfort issues.  CCG. was contacted and performed an audit of this facility along with the other Lake buildings.  The results of the audit were eye-opening.  In addition to complaints of poor comfort in the buildings, the High School Complex was consuming twice the energy as expected.

Realizing that there was an opportunity to utilize the future energy savings and address many of the districts’ needs, in February of 2103, the Board of Education awarded a contract to CCG to implement an energy conservation program under the guidelines of the Ohio Energy Conservation Program.  The project included the replacement of the control system in the High School Complex and Uniontown Elementary, numerous upgrades to the heating system in the High School Complex, a redesigned heating system at Uniontown Elementary, lighting upgrades in the High School Complex, Uniontown Elementary, the Athletic Complex and the Bus Garage and new lighting for the Athletic field.

At their November School Board meeting, Brian Wagner, president of CCG, presented the savings reconciliation.  In the first year after the project was completed the actual savings was $543,188, exceeding the projected savings of $393,942.  With the savings during the construction period included, the total was $736,166 - 87% higher than projected and resulting in a net positive cash flow to the District of $333,960!  In the High School Complex alone - which includes the high school, the Administration Offices, YMCA, Mercy Medical Center, Public Library and the Field House - energy consumption dropped by a staggering 60% in the first full year.  

In addition, and more importantly, Lake Local Schools was able to significantly improve the comfort level for the students, staff and faculty, through the installation of a new Automated Logic WebCTRL building automation system.  This resulted in a more productive and healthier learning environment.  

The Energy Conservation Program, also known as House Bill 264 after the legislation that created it, allows school districts to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings and use the future utility cost savings to pay for those improvements.  The Energy Conservation Program gives districts the ability, in this one limited instance, to borrow funds without having to pass a ballot issue for the authority to borrow. This limited borrowing authority has given districts the ability to save millions in utility bills and operating costs, and all at no additional taxpayer expense. 

“This has been a great investment,” says Jeff S. Wendorf, Superintendent of Lake Local Schools. “We were able to address many of our facility needs, improve the comfort in our buildings, reduce the risk of failure with many of our systems, and receive a positive cash flow.  This has been a win-win-win-win for Lake Local Schools.”  

“We couldn’t be happier for Lake Local Schools,” says Brian Wagner, “This is another great example of a district utilizing resources available to them to optimize the taxpayer dollars while improving the learning environment.”

Company News

» View Archived News