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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Board of Education will consider a wide-ranging energy efficient plan for Wood County Schools.
During Tuesday's board meeting, Superintendent Will Hosaflook said representatives of CMTA Energy Solutions will present an overview of a program to increase energy efficiency in February.
CMTA "has set up a timeline for us to look at," Hosaflook said, including "possible projects, possible school renovations and facility upgrades."
In 2018, CMTA Energy Solutions reviewed utility bills for the district's schools and administrative buildings. The survey was conducted without cost to the school system, and showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential savings through an energy-efficiency plan.
The survey found the highest energy usage at Fairplains Elementary School, which was built in 1948. Just below Fairplains were Worthington and Neale Elementary schools. Worthington is slated to close at the end of this school year.
The CMTA report estimated the school system would need to invest $8.5 million-$11 million to improve energy efficiency at all of its schools and facilities. The report also estimated annual savings of $656,000-$826,000, with the school system recouping its investment within 15 years.
CMTA will lead the board through "how it is going to look in terms of a capital lease program and how it is going to be set up over the next 15 years," Hosaflook said. "A big part of the project is the cash-neutral flow" where the management system pays for itself through savings.
"Which means we are going to be saving a lot of money within our system," Hosaflook said.
Board President Rick Olcott on Wednesday said he was excited to hear CMTA's plan.
"We are looking forward to a well organized and fiscally responsible long term plan to address the $75M deferred maintenance challenge across Wood County Schools," Olcott said. "It is essential that the Board of Education make significant progress on positioning our existing schools to be more energy efficient and a more cost effective and maintenance friendly environment for our students, staff, and the community. Improvements such as state of the art lighting, HVAC systems, water control systems, doors, windows, to name a few, are critical to success with energy savings."
Olcott and Hosaflook said they likely will recommend the board scheduling a special meeting in early February to receive information on the plan.
Michael Erb can be reached at merb@newsandsentinel.com