Mount Vernon schools to conduct energy efficiency upgrades

MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon City School District will reap the results of a $44 million contract to become more energy efficient.
Through the contract with Honeywell Building Solutions, the district will take steps by upgrading or replacing significant numbers of aged and/or obsolete infrastructure including boilers, lighting fixtures and ventilation systems.
Over the next 12 to 18 months the district will replace 34 boilers in 15 building.
“These are some of the oldest boilers in the district that liberally cost thousands of dollars and countless man-hours each year to maintain,” said Kenneth Silver, the assistant superintendent for business. “They will be replaced with state-of-the-art, energy efficient equipment that will provide worry-free heat to our buildings for years to come.”
The energy performance contract calls for the replacement of more than 15,000 light fixtures with LED lights and the installation of lighting controls that will adjust the light based on room occupancy and eliminate the wasteful use of lighting in empty rooms and hallways.
“The best part of this project is that there is no cost to the district or the taxpayers of the City of Mount Vernon,” said Silver.  “The entire project is self-funded through the savings achieved by running a more efficient energy program throughout our district.  The energy savings are guaranteed through the energy performance contract and should the district come up short on the expected guaranteed savings, Honeywell will make up the difference. It is a win-win for our schools, the community and the environment.”