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I-S schools receive energy award

The Iola-Scandinavia School District recently received an energy award and a $5,785 incentive check from Focus on Energy.

The plaque and incentive check were presented during the Sept. 8 meeting of the I-S School Board.

The achievement plaque was presented by Jeremy Bellile, lighting consultant with US Lamp Inc of Green Bay.

Joe Kottwitz, energy consultant with Focus on Energy, presented the incentive check.

The award recognized the school district’s participation in implementing a new energy efficient lighting system and their continuing efforts on improving the quality of the school environment, reducing energy costs within their district, and minimizing maintenance costs.

During the fall of 2013, Bellile contacted the school district and explained the advantages of replacing T12 lighting systems with T8 high performance and energy efficient fluorescent lighting. 

US Lamp was contracted to conduct a detailed audit of every room within the high school structure, comparing the existing equipment to currently available state-of-the-art lighting technologies. 

US Lamp designed a high-efficiency, cost-effective lighting solution to eliminate the T12 system which allowed a majority of the existing lighting fixtures to be upgraded (retrofitted) rather than replaced.

Other areas that had obsolete lighting systems were redesigned with high-efficiency fixtures and incorporated into this solution. Additionally, occupancy sensors and day-lighting controls were included to further reduce energy, by turning lighting off in unoccupied rooms or day-lit spaces. 

The overall lighting project was implemented during this past summer.

This project generates over $15,658 per year in energy savings. 

The district will lease the new lighting system through US Lamp in partnership with GFC Leasing.

The energy savings from the electric bill is paying for the monthly lease payment, so with no money down needed, and no money out of pocket, the energy savings pays for the monthly lease bill with the school receiving new energy efficient lighting.

Additionally, there are significant environmental benefits including a reduction of 193,641 pounds of CO2, 1,412 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 746 pounds of nitrogen oxide from the atmosphere, through this reduction in energy use.

According to District Administrator David Dyb, the next phase of the project will include an overall lighting project for the elementary building.

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