V.I. Schools Blazing Trail to Energy Efficiency
The blue and yellow Charlotte Amalie High School gym gleamed with clean bright light Thursday afternoon, like a freshly turned-out bandbox.
In fact, Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry said, "When I first walked in, I looked up to see if they'd installed sky lights."
The gym's new look – the product of hi-efficiency 28-watt fluorescent bulbs – is part of a result of the V.I. government's $6.9-million investment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, which will bring home enormous savings to the V.I. Department of Education, and, ultimately, to the entire territory.
It is a first step in Gov. John deJongh Jr.'s goal to reduce the territory's dependence on fossil fuel by 60 percent by 2025.
The governor signed an agreement with contractor Energy Systems Group in January, and the work was begun in May on 11 schools, five of which are already complete.
V.I. Energy Office Director Karl Knight, VIEO program specialist Miguel Quinones, Energy Systems’ Doug Tischbein, and Terry spoke with enthusiasm about the project Thursday before CAHS Principal Carmen Howell guided everyone on a tour of the newly retrofitted facility.
Quinones, who has personally shepherded the work, said the florescent bulbs lighting up the gym like a megawatt birthday candle are fluorescent lamps, which use 28 watts as opposed to the previous 40-watt fixtures, and have reflectors behind them. He pointed out motion sensors in the ceiling.
Tischbein said the project includes water technology as well as the lighting, explaining the low-flow toilets, and sink faucets with automatic turnoffs. "We're turning energy into assets," he said.
In fact, Tischbein said the savings thus far on the five completed schools, estimated at $400,000 yearly, have grown to $550,000, an increased savings of about 40 percent.
With projected savings of $1.1 million annually, and the initial investment of $6.9 million, VIEO representatives said the project should pay for itself in six years.
Terry said, "We are thrilled to be the first government agency to participate in the program. The impact on our utility bill will be tremendous on our 43 facilities."
Also, she said, "The program is a teaching opportunity; it will make the students and parents more mindful of energy savings."
Knight said Terry may have been too modest in thanking the Energy Office for its work. "I know the Education Department was already looking into energy saving programs before this."
He said air-conditioning and other energy-saving measures are on tap for future work.
Knight spoke of the office's plans for other agencies. "We are working with programs for nonprofits, and low-income families, and next week we'll be revealing a new program with the Small Business Administration."
Howell took parental pride in accompanying the tour, looking into the classrooms, and the not-to-be-overlooked bathroom facilities. Quinones took reporters for a firsthand look at the ultra low-flow toilet, where a technician with an odd-looking mechanism demonstrated how to measure the sharply reduced flow from the new toilets—a demonstration somewhat lost on this reporter, but a quantifiable measure, according to those that know.
The classrooms, along with all the offices, all have new lighting along with motion sensors. The main office's motion sensors work well, Howell remarked with a laugh.
"We were working last night, and we had stepped into a side office, when we noticed the main office lights had gone out. We couldn't figure it out at first, until we stepped in, and the lights came on. Magic!"
Howell said she is excited at the project and thinks the students will be appreciative. "The work will showcase the need to be mindful of our resources," she said.
The work was begun in May, and will be finished in September, and will not interfere with school, officials said.
The new technologies are being installed in CAHS, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Yvonne Milliner Bowsky, Lockhart and E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary Schools, and Addelita Cancryn Junior High School on St. Thomas.
On St. Croix, Lew Muckle Elementary School, Elena Christian and John H. Woodson Junior Highs, and St. Croix Central High School are getting the improvements.
