District to officially receive energy efficiency award on Wednesday

Vineland Public Schools will officially receive the Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award at Wednesday’s Board of Education work session for sustainable energy and operational efficiency in its new schools.

The award was announced by Trane’s Philadelphia Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Duffy at the 13th Annual New Jersey School Building and Grounds Association Conference and Expo in Atlantic City last month. On hand for the announcement was Wayne Weaver, the district’s Executive Director of Facilities,

According to Trane, the district was selected for the award because it carefully considered design in four district schools, which helps save energy and money through operational efficiencies. The schools are:

• Pauline J. Petway Elementary School
• Thomas W. Wallace Jr. Middle School
• Veterans Memorial School
• Center City School Complex

Energy and operating cost savings at the schools are realized through the high efficiency heating and cooling systems and controls. Some of the Vineland schools are applying geothermal or renewable energy technologies, and have unique design and placement of mechanical equipment closets for each classroom.

These closets are accessible from outside the classrooms, allowing school engineers to make repairs and do maintenance during school hours – dramatically reducing overtime. Plus, these closets take noisy equipment out of the classroom to not only make maintenance easier, but also reduce noise from the equipment – improving classroom acoustics and students’ ability to concentrate and learn.

The schools’ unique design was done in accordance with The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, and saves significant energy and resources over schools not built with energy efficiency in mind. LEED encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.