Colby schools consider $2.5 million vote on energy efficient buildings

From a story by Adam Rodewall in the Marshfield News Herald:

COLBY -- Voters may see a $2.5 million facilities referendum in September that would make Colby school buildings more energy efficient. . . .

Out-of-date heating systems in the Colby elementary, middle and high schools made up most of the district's 10-year facility needs outlined during a special board meeting Monday.

The district wants to install condensed boilers that are 95 percent efficient and heat using water.

The current 50-year-old system operates around 50 percent efficiency, according to Rick Anderson of Eau Claire-based APEX Engineering, which conducted the district's facilities study.

A district-wide upgrade of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems would cost about $841,000, but it would pay for itself in a little more than nine years and save the district over $92,000 annually, according to the study.

The district is also considering a wood pellet heater for the middle and high school, said board president Dennis Engel. The board would then look into grants and stipends for organizations making the switch to renewable fuels.

Wood pellet heaters are only half as efficient as the other boilers that run on natural gas, but the pellets cost significantly less, said Anderson.