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Bellbrook schools saving thousands on utilities

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BELLBROOK — Two years after completing a comprehensive energy savings project with Energy Optimizers, USA, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools has exceeded projected savings on its utility bills by more than $6,000 annually.

In 2016, the district executed a $1.8 million project to transition all lighting to LED systems and to make energy-saving upgrades to its boilers, chillers, HVAC temperature controls and kitchen equipment. At the time, the district was the first in Ohio to upgrade all of its lighting to LED systems.

The district expected to save slightly more than $134,000 a year on electrical and gas utilities, but actual savings have exceeded $140,00 annually. The savings are normalized, or adjusted to account for outliers in weather conditions and utility rates.

“Fiscal conservation is of significant importance in our district, which is why we partnered with Energy Optimizers, USA, and invested in cost-effective, energy-saving solutions throughout our district,” said Interim Superintendent Jeff Lewis. “Clearly those investments are paying off as a substantial savings to our bottom line.”

The savings will continue to add up for the district over the long term, according to Greg Smith, president of Energy Optimizers, USA.

“Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools will continue to see savings not just in its electric and gas usage, but also in long-term operations and maintenance costs simply because these systems last longer,” Smith said. “This level of forward thinking by the district’s leadership is the reflection of a community that has made funding the education of its youth a priority.”

Energy Optimizers, USA works with educational, governmental, commercial and industrial customers to implement energy savings opportunities to reduce operational costs, including lighting retrofits, renewable energy projects (wind and solar), HVAC retrofit projects, building automation retrofits and energy education programs.