May 11 2010
In today's economic climate, education leaders are pressed to maximize the use of every resource possible. Leaders from two central U.S. schools recently combined energy efficiency upgrades with other projects to improve the learning and teaching environment.
At the upcoming School/College Building Expo, Scott Krull, central territory vice president, HVAC-R operations for Trane and Hussmann, and Kyle Hayden, district superintendent, Tonganoxie Unified School District (USD) 464, will describe how the district coupled building upgrades with an energy efficiency curriculum to create an integrated hand-on learning experience. Bill Harris, vice president, education markets for Trane and Dr. Jerry Steward, executive vice president for Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), will address how the college combined a significant campus expansion with energy efficiency improvements.
Tonganoxie USD 464-Curriculum Community Facility: Keys to Creating a High Performance Learning Environment
When Tonganoxie USD 464 embarked on a major energy and infrastructure improvement project, administrators envisioned far more than efficient classrooms and reliable systems. Krull and Hayden will outline how the district took the project into the classroom, coupling building upgrades with an energy efficiency curriculum to create an integrated, hands-on learning experience. The recently completed infrastructure upgrades are expected to save $217,000 a year in operations, maintenance and utilities costs.
Students conducted a preliminary energy audit of their school, analyzed the results and got the community involved, writing letters to local legislators. These letters resulted in a visit with Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson and were attached to a state energy bill signed that day. Attendees will gain tips and guidance on linking building initiatives to curriculum for an enhanced student learning experience. They will also learn how Tonganoxie's interactive energy program generated community- and state-wide involvement and support.
OCCC-Community College Combines Expansion with Energy Saving Improvements
Fueled by growth in community college attendance, college enrollment hit an all-time high in October 2008, according to a Pew Research Report released last fall. Oklahoma City Community College, one of the nation's largest community colleges understands this explosive growth first-hand. In 2009, the school anticipated record enrollment, which had already grown from 1,200 to 19,000 in just 35 years.
Harris and Steward will describe how the rapidly growing school tied an extensive campus upgrade, including a 30 percent increase in square footage, with energy-saving upgrades. The improvements decreased energy usage by nearly 35 percent from 2003-2008 and optimized the learning environment while making the school more environmentally responsible.
Conference attendees will gain tips for assessing current infrastructure systems and evaluating potential improvements on their own campuses. They will learn how to apply similar methodologies to their own schools while aligning them with educational, environmental and budgetary objectives.
Source: http://www.trane.com/