Infrastructure improvements generate savings for Mount Vernon School District

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The recently completed infrastructure improvements address aging infrastructure, reduce energy expenses, and improve student and staff comfort. Launched in June 2009, the project focused on addressing high priority facility needs, including the boiler at Lincoln Elementary and the heat pumps at Centennial Elementary, along with some of the older and more troublesome systems at the Cascade Commons, Mount Baker Middle School, and Little Mountain Elementary.

Savings will be further enhanced by more than $420,000 in energy conservation rebates that the district will receive from Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Natural Gas. The final value of the rebates is nearly 20% greater than originally estimated. This further demonstrates the value of the district's conservation efforts, which will eliminate 1.8 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually (equivalent to the emissions from the electricity use of 115 homes).

The project is funded with a performance contract, supported by the State's Department of General Administration Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) program. ESPC is a model that allows building owners to use future energy and operational savings to finance infrastructure projects. It is an option through which schools can leverage operational savings to address facility needs and support strategic educational objectives.

Optimizing the learning environment can actually affect student performance. According to Greening America's Schools, a recent national report of K-12 schools, green schools could raise academic performance while improving the health, well-being and productivity of all who learn and work there.