Courtesy of San Benito High School:
San Benito High School’s energy conservation program, which has included the installation of efficient LED lighting throughout campus, upgrades to HVAC systems and the installation of solar photovoltaic panels in the Baler Alley parking lot on the north side of campus, as of late October had resulted in savings to the school of just under $114,000.
That figure total was calculated prior to the solar panels going online, which is expected to provide additional cost savings to the district’s General Fund.
Climatec, with whom the district is working on the energy-efficiency measures, reported to the Board of Trustees that counting Prop. 39 funding and Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREBs), the district has made more than $6.3 million in total infrastructure and renewable improvements, with an anticipated lifecycle savings of more than $13.3 million, including net General Fund relief in years one to five of more than $1 million.
The energy conservation project is expected to reduce annual electric consumption on campus by nearly 1.6 million kWh.
