Newberg Graphic publication , by Seth Gordon                                                                                                                                                                    

Increasing energy efficiency was one part of the $27.1 million school bond Newberg voters passed in 2011, as outdated electrical and inefficient heating and ventilation systems were costing the school district thousands of dollars in operating costs.

With data available from the 2014-2015 school year available, operations and safety coordinator Larry Hampton told the school board that the district is starting to see the benefit of those investments during his facilities report at the March 29 meeting.

Passage of the school bond provided funds to install heating and ventilating energy controls in all schools, replace single pane windows, install utility regulators, replace inefficient lighting and increase door and building insulation

In the 2008-2009 school year, the school district spent $832,065 on electricity, heating fuel and gas to keep 11 school facilities warm and bright.

Despite increasing the total square footage of school facilities by 21,287 square feet with the addition of the Springbrook Education Center, the school district’s energy bill was $765,089 in 2014-2015. The savings of $66,976 is an 8 percent drop.

The reduction in use did not go unnoticed by NW Natural Gas Major Accounts Manager Tom Simpson, who praised the district’s efforts dropping its consumption from 190,563 therms from three years ago to 127,284 therms last year, a reduction of 33.2 percent.

Hampton added that the district continues to increase energy efficiency by eliminating air leaks, adding gas regulators and using less fuel.

Moving forward, he says repairing and replacing outdated HVAC units will be the next steps in improving efficiency.