Sylvania schools hope to save green by going green - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Sylvania schools hope to save green by going green

It's a new program that would save money by saving energy in the Sylvania School district.  On Monday, at the school board meeting, Trane, a heating and air conditioning company, presented a plan to do just that.

"It is really difficult for schools to generate money," Trane representative, Jim Zavesky said. "They either have to go to the community.  This is one area the district doesn't have to go to the taxpayers and ask for more money."

Trane and the school district have been looking for ways to cut energy costs for several months.  This proposal would cost around $5 to $8 million dollars in upgrades, but the savings would be more than $400,000.

"Typically we look between 20-25% of general savings off their utility budget," Zavesky said.

Trane representatives and district leaders have already done walk through's in the buildings and they've found most of operating pretty well.  If the district goes with this plan, the first two things to be addressed are lighting and plumbing.

"The savings comes with the consistency of control in lighting systems and also the plumbing," Superintendent Brad Rieger said. "Obviously, we have a level of that but this project might give us an opportunity to enhance that."

Not all of the district's buildings need upgrades, in fact, some have been rebuilt all together.  Still, the initial report found they can do better.

"We designed a new building and the systems in place are light years ahead of some of our other buildings," Rieger said.  "But even after a couple of years, technology has improved."

And while there are still questions that need answers before moving forward, the district is optimistic.

The school board could vote on a resolution as early as October 22nd.