Three area schools are receiving upgrades through the province’s School Enhancement program, after School District 27 was approved for funding.
Dog Creek Elementary/Middle School will have an HVAC DDC system installed and optimize its sequence of operations.
“The total cost will be $54,785 with an estimated annual savings of $4,250,” said school district secretary treasurer Kevin Futcher.
At Likely Elementary/Middle School the funding will go to install an HVAC DDC system and optimize its sequence of operations.
Futcher said the total cost will be $91,288, with an estimated annual savings of $4,780.
Cataline Elementary School will receive a fire protection system upgrade, for a total cost $175,000.
“The fire protection system upgrade at Cataline Elementary School will be in addition to the $1.8 million project currently underway at the school which will replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the school and install a biomass boiler system,” Futcher said.
For the project at Cataline, the school district secured $416,000 in funding through the Carbon Neutral Capital Program. The remainder will be funded from the Annual Facilities Grant.
The biomass boiler system was selected due to its cost efficient heating, low CO2 emissions and an abundant supply of wood pellets manufactured in Williams Lake Kutcher said.
“Currently we operate pellet boiler systems in our schools in Tatla Lake and Alexis Creek,” Futcher said. “These pellet boiler systems have reduced heating costs at the schools by approximately 40 per cent and CO2 emissions by approximately 80 per cent.”