It’s no secret that many school districts across the country lack funding for buildings repairs and desperately need to upgrade their facilities. While some administrators put off HVAC projects for as long as they can, choosing to repair instead of replace antiquated equipment, others are looking for ways to save energy and money in the long run while operating as green and sustainably as possible. The following case studies illustrate how schools across the country are implementing different HVACR solutions to achieve these goals.
After numerous water leaks, compressor failures, and damper control problems, it was time for South High Community School in Worcester, Massachusetts, to replace its 30-year-old rooftop units. Not only had the units outlasted their expected mechanical life cycles, but their ability to deliver fresh outdoor air and maintain comfortable heating and cooling conditions became increasingly difficult and expensive. To specify a state-of-the-art replacement HVAC rooftop system, the energy- and environmentally conscious school district enlisted the services of Springfield, Missouri-based Lindgren & Sharples P.C. Director of facilities Jeff Lassey met with Lindgren & Sharples engineer Mike Lescarbeau to establish new system design requirements. Electric heat would need to be replaced with a lower-cost energy source. To avoid altering the recently installed rubber roof, the new replacement units would need to utilize existing roof curbs and ductwork.