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Maine High Performance Schools
Program Description
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| Variable frequency drive on high performance motors. Cony High School, Augusta, Maine. |
Efficiency Maine is working with the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), Maine Bureau of General Services (BGS), the Maine School Management Association (MSMA), the United States Department of Energy (US DOE), and participating school districts to encourage energy efficient designs and the installation of energy-efficient equipment in new schools.
The program includes design and implementation assistance to participating schools. The program will also include an education component and an outreach and marketing effort led by MSMA, which will consist of workshops and seminars promoting energy efficiency in schools.
Program Benefits
- Reduced energy consumption in schools and lower operation and maintenance costs; and,
- Increased productivity and student attendance caused by better building designs that improve the learning environment.
Program Activities
Seventeen schools are involved in the program. One, the Congin School in Westbrook, has completed its project. The school first received a grant for design assistance, then after review of its more efficient design, the school qualified for a grant to install more efficient equipment. When the project was finished, Efficiency Maine sent a check of $64,000 based on the value of the energy savings. Two other facilities are close to completion of their projects, a third has recently begun its design work and there are 16 schools at some level of participation.
Efficiency Maine’s Services and Resources
Efficiency Maine will provide financial assistance to participating schools in the form of design and implementation. In addition, Efficiency Maine has retained the services of a Program Technical Advisor (PTA) who will review plans and specifications for new schools and provide technical advice and assistance in energy efficiency to MDOE and BGS.
Eligibility
Eligibility is limited. The program is available to school districts that are constructing projects under the State Board of Education Special Priority List for major capital facilities in 2003/2004 and those from 2001/2002 list that are presently in the early concept design phase, but have not yet held a public referendum.
The program is also available to schools developing similar projects outside the Major Capital Improvement Program that are in the early design phase and rely on local funding.
For more information
If you are already on the State Board of Education’s Special Priority List or have a school project in the early design phase and rely on local funding and are interested in taking advantage of this program, please contact Richard Bacon at (207) 287-8349.
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Public
Utilities Commission