Workshop For Energy Project At Crawford County R-1

The Crawford County R-1 School District met March 11 for an energy and operational efficiency improvement project. 

The proposed upgrades, developed in collaboration with Navitas, aim to reduce energy costs, improve building performance, and enhance safety and comfort for students and staff.

Navitas has conducted a facility condition assessment and worked with district stakeholders to identify key areas for improvement. The project would be funded through a lease purchase, allowing the district to make initial progress before a potential bond issue is proposed for additional facility upgrades.

Navitas estimates the project would cost $1.2 million.

Proposed Upgrades

The plan focuses on three major areas:

1. Districtwide Weatherization ($150,508)

Over time, gaps around doors, windows, and other openings in school buildings allow outside air to infiltrate, increasing the load on HVAC systems and raising energy costs. In some cases, gaps may have existed since the buildings were first constructed. The weatherization plan includes:

• Sealing air leaks with caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows.
• Reducing outside air infiltration, leading to lower heating and cooling costs.
• Improving indoor comfort by maintaining consistent indoor temperatures.

2. Interior and Exterior Lighting Retrofits ($415,083)

The district plans to upgrade its lighting systems to modern LED technology, which consumes less energy, has a longer lifespan, and requires less maintenance. The project includes:

• Replacing outdated lighting fixtures with high-efficiency LED bulbs and ballasts.
• Extending the life of lighting equipment and reducing ongoing replacement costs.
• Adding new exterior lighting fixtures to improve visibility and security around school buildings, ensuring that all areas meet minimum lighting standards set by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

3. Building Automation System (BAS) ($482,809 - $586,816)

Currently, Crawford County R-1 schools lack a centralized system for managing heating, cooling, and ventilation, except for a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) system in the high school, which is not actively monitored by the district. The proposed BAS would integrate all buildings into a unified system, optimizing energy use and reducing wear and tear on HVAC equipment. The system would include:

• Night Setback/Up: Automatically adjusting room temperatures during unoccupied hours to conserve energy.
• Optimum Start/Stop Control: Scheduling units to turn on and off at the most efficient times through the "MyEliteCampus" cloud-based system.
• CO2 Demand Control Ventilation: Monitoring carbon dioxide levels in rooms to regulate the amount of fresh air intake, improving indoor air quality and efficiency.

Two options are under consideration:

• WiFi-based thermostat system: Estimated cost of $482,809.
• Full control system: Estimated cost of $586,816, which offers more precise management and automation of HVAC operations.