Eldorado elementary to save money with efficient heating, cooling
ELDORADO - The installation of a money-saving heating and air conditioning system is underway at the Eldorado elementary school.
Eric Cantrell, the maintenance director for Eldorado Unit 4, told the school board last week that the project involves removing the building's old boiler system and replacing it with individual central heating and air conditioning units.
"The old boiler system was very inefficient," Cantrell told board members. "The new system is an expense to install, but it will pay for itself in the long run."
Cantrell said according to manufacturer specifications, the new heating and air conditioning units will use about half the energy that the outdated boiler system used.
New energy efficient glass will be installed at the same time, which will cause fewer fluctuations in temperatures in the elementary school building, Cantrell said.
Eldorado Superintendent and high school principal Ryan Hobbs said it is another way the district is changing to operate more efficiently, saving both money and energy.
"This is the direction we're wanting to go," Hobbs said. "We're cutting back on the amount of power we're having to use, which in turn saves the district financially."
Eldorado recently approved the installation of a solar energy field and solar panels to reduce power consumption in the district's buildings. The partnership with Siemens Corp. comes at no cost to the district, and Siemens will be able to sell whatever power the district does not use, to outside customers.
Other news
• Eldorado school board members voted to switch the district's liability insurance, along with coverage for buildings and vehicles, to Brannock Insurance, owned by Eric Brannock of Eldorado.
• The board approved Stride Pro Wrestling's application to host a wrestling fundraiser for former Eldorado High School graduate Sarah Miles-Keltner.
Keltner, the board was told, has a Stage 4 type of cancer. The wrestling company will host the show at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium, with proceeds going toward Keltner's medical expenses.
Board members unanimously approved the show, and Hobbs said he appreciated the gesture.
"It says a lot about our community when someone wants to contribute something like this," Hobbs said.
The bell will ring at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium.