School Heating System Analysis by Energy Management Consultants (EMC)

The January 22 School Board meeting packet contained slides from Energy Management Consultants describing their analysis of the school’s heating system and their proposals. However, there was no presentation.

The slides include many recommendations, including installing solar and LED lighting and replacing hot water heaters. The following slides are the most relevant to the school’s heating problems.

Key points:

• As with the recommendations from EEI, EMC recommends eliminating the need for glycol by insulating the short sections of pipe that are exposed to freezing temperatures.

• EMC recommends replacing the pipe fittings, as these are prime sources for leaks.

• EMC recommends installing a heat pump system as the school’s primary heating source. The system would also provide air conditioning. Coupled with its recommendation to install solar, EMC says it would dramatically lower the school’s heating costs.

The Shool Board briefly discussed the ongoing issues with the school’s heating system. These issues have entailed near-daily updates to parents about the latest failures and repairs.

The board decided to solicit proposals from vendors to address the heating problems. However, vendors have objected to the proposals and pricing being discussed in public, as this would disclose confidential information to competitors. Therefore, the board has decided to evaluate the proposals in a non-public session.

At this point, the board is certain that whatever proposal is accepted will entail:

• A complete flush of the water in the heating system

• Eliminating the need for anti-freeze in the system through insulating and the short sections of heating pipe that are exposed to sub-freezing temperatures.

• A thorough inspection of the heating pipes, with the expectation that some components (pipes, fittings, valves, etc.) will need to be replaced.

The board, however, is not confident in its ability to evaluate the proposals, nor in its ability to oversee the vendors. For this reason, it has decided to attempt to recruit an HVAC consultant to assist in this. Here’s the job posting.