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By DON WATERHOUSE
Correspondent 12/31/2007

enlarge Photo by Don Waterhouse

THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY: School Administrative District 9 Support Services Director David Leavitt points out information on school energy systems available to him on a computer screen.

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That's no problem for David Leavitt. He can do it in the comfort of his own home. No need to turn a wheel out his driveway.

Leavitt, the support services director for School Administrative District 9, can simply go to a computer linked to the district's eight school buildings, punch a few keys and the task is done.

While Leavitt usually heads for his office in Farmington to perform the tasks, the do-it-at-home option is always there. It's one of the benefits of the high-tech energy control system that has been installed throughout the district and has already resulted in heating and electrical savings for SAD 9 in a world of escalating costs.

In his position, Leavitt is in charge of both the maintenance and bus transportation duties of the nine-town district.

Within the past couple of years, his tasks in maintenance have been altered considerably with the installation of a new energy efficiency system by IbControls, a company based in Windham.

"It's very user friendly. It brings up instant information so you know right now what's going on in a building," Leavitt said.

SAD 9 paid IbControls more than a half million dollars to put in new heat and lighting controls in buildings, some of which have previously experienced uneven heat, poor ventilation and wasted electricity. One of the biggest culprits in inefficiency was Mt. Blue High School, built in the 1960's. Complaints there have included rooms where temperatures could soar into the 90s.

"I think it's been better," said Randy Cook, an assistant principal who has worked at the high school for several years. "From our perspective, we're getting fewer complaints and we're able to deal with issues in a more timely fashion. But again, it's an old building. It's kind of a Band-Aid until we get a new building."

"I think it's been better," said Randy Cook, an assistant principal who has worked at the high school for several years. "From our perspective, we're getting fewer complaints and we're able to deal with issues in a more timely fashion. But again, it's an old building. It's kind of a Band-Aid until we get a new building."

SAD 9 is in line for state funding for a major renovation for the high school and adjoining Foster Regional Applied Technology Center.

Under the new system, Leavitt can connect to any number of monitors that give him a picture on his computers as to what's going on in hallways and rooms at any of the schools. He can control heat and lights instantly. The same controls are available to maintenance workers at each school, as well as to Superintendent Michael Cormier and Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt.

The controls allow heating systems to be turned up and down automatically according to school day schedules. Monitors send out warnings in case of any failures. During the current vacation period, building temperatures were kept at 60 degrees.

"It's a tool that needs to be managed on a daily basis," Leavitt said.

In a report to SAD 9 directors this past fall, Leavitt provided figures that showed the improvements are showing positive results.

At then current electric and heating oil prices, energy savings amounted to $164,210, he said. Heating oil consumption was nearly 40,000 gallons less and kilowatt hours of electricity were 336,000 less. When the current SAD 9 budget was developed early this year, it included 40,000 fewer gallons of heating oil as a result of the improvements.

Leavitt is also eyeing alternate energy sources, such as wind and geothermal, as means of reaching additional savings.

"We're looking at installing pellet stoves at Cape Cod Hill (New Sharon) and Academy Hill (Wilton)," Leavitt said.

SAD 9 has also received help from Efficiency Maine, a program administered by the Public Utilities Commission. Most recently, the district received nearly $34,000 to help reduce the IbControls tab. So far, SAD 9 has completed five projects with Efficiency Maine.

As of September, 90 public and private school systems have received technical assistance and cash incentives from the Efficiency Maine Business Program, according to the program's manager, David Kyle.

"The program is 4 1/2 years old, and this represents a high level of penetration among schools," Kyle said. "These schools have completed over 350 projects and received a cumulative total of about $1.1 million in incentives from Efficiency Maine."

In a few weeks, Efficiency Maine will be announcing a special one-year initiative to further increase the participation of schools in the program, Kyle said.

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