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School District Invests $1.3 Million in High Efficiency
The Jacksonville Independent School District (JISD) in Jacksonville, Texas, has implemented $1.3 million in facility enhancements designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at Jacksonville Middle School. The Energy Solutions division of TAC, a world leader in energy services, building automation and security, completed the work as a performance contract with the district. Because the project enables the district to reduce its energy consumption, the JISD will receive a $30,000 rebate from the local electric utility.
JISD officials recognized that the 124,000 square-foot Jacksonville Middle School, which serves 672 students in this east Texas community, needed a major renovation. Problems included a failing roof, old mechanical equipment and poor duct work, all of which led to comfort complaints. District officials also desired to maximize energy efficiency within the building since utility costs only seem to be increasing. They selected new air-conditioning units with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) and that offered the best indoor air quality (IAQ) by constantly managing CO2 and humidity levels.
“We developed a capital improvement project to address the problems at our middle school and to significantly improve learning conditions,” said Troy Parker, director of purchasing for JISD. “To minimize disruption, we had the roof replaced at the same time that the new rooftop air-conditioning units were installed. The entire project was completed over the summer to avoid disrupting our classes this fall.”
Performance contracting offers many long-term benefits for school districts, such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings, which help defray the costs of the facility improvements.
The work had to be done concurrently in order to be completed while the building was unoccupied. This required TAC and the roofing contractor to coordinate closely with each other as they replaced the air-conditioning equipment and installed the new roof respectively.
“These improvements have enhanced the Jacksonville Middle School, and students and staff now enjoy a better learning and working environment,” said Shon Anderson, vice president of TAC Energy Solutions Sales. “The energy savings the district is enjoying will help defray some of the costs of the project, as will the utility rebate. This way, the community gets a better school building but the taxpayers aren’t faced with as large of a construction bill.”