OISD Wins Nearly Half a Million in Energy Grant Dollars

Award will stretch bond funding

The State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has approved a $450,000 energy grant requested by the Orcas Island School District (OISD) Superintendent Barbara Kline announced on Friday, March 28.

The grant was prepared in conjunction with the staff at University Mechanical who also worked on the energy grant for the elementary school HVAC and plumbing repairs that were made a few years ago.

Kline said, “These new grant dollars will be used to supplement the work that we are doing with bond funds. This will help us spread our bond dollars further because otherwise, some of this work would have to be done with bond money.”

Specifically, the State energy grant will provide for

• New HVAC and plumbing and lighting in the current library (building 200)
• New lighting, plumbing, heating system and electrical system upgrades in the Old Gym
• Upgrades to exterior lighting in the parking lot and on the exterior of the elementary school
• Upgrade solar system at Waldron School.

“This is great news for us and for our community. The only upgrades that were a part of the 2012 Bond are the ones for the current library (building 200). We are very happy to have this additional money that enables us to do work on the Old Gym and Waldron,” said Superintendent Kline.

Following is the list of items to be completed in language from the approved grant:

Current Library (Building 200) is receiving a complete energy efficient remodel of the facility; including upgrades to all major operating systems.

• New high efficiency HVAC system with upgraded ventilation
• New high efficiency heat pumps replacing electric resistance heating
• New DDC control of HVAC system that will be incorporated with existing building automation system serving the High School & Elementary School. This system will incorporate energy efficient optimization sequences such at demand control ventilation.
• New plumbing system including high efficiency water fixtures
• New high efficiency lighting & lighting controls upgrade

Old Gym:

• UCM 2: Water Conservation – Provides new high efficiency fixtures throughout.
• UCM 3: Lighting & Lighting Controls Upgrades – This measure replaces lighting throughout the facility with more efficient fixtures (includes Metal Halide to fluorescent T8 in the gym). Also provides occupancy based control of lighting fixtures.
• UCM 4: All new heating system with efficient DDC controls throughout the facility
• UCM 5: Electrical System Upgrade – Provides upgrades to select panels for code compliance
• UCM 6: Weatherize Doors
• UCM 7: Parking Lot Lighting Retrofit (Metal Halide to LED)
• UCM 8: Exterior Lighting Retrofit (HPS to LED)

Waldron School Solar Project
UCM 1: Upgrade Photovoltaic System – Provide newly expanded/upgraded photovoltaic system for off-grid Waldron School