Energy Saving Improvements Advance Lakota Schools to New Level of Excellence

- Upgrades to Save District More than $257,000 Annually -

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio, Dec. 8 -- Lakota Local School District, recognized by the State of Ohio as Ohio's largest "excellent" district for eight consecutive years, recently completed energy saving upgrades that take the district to a new level of distinction.

The district will receive the "Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award" for infrastructure upgrades projected to save more than $257,000 in annual energy and operating costs while improving the teaching and learning environment. The seventh-largest school district in Ohio, and the largest in Butler County, Lakota Schools serves the north suburban Cincinnati, Ohio, communities of Liberty Township and West Chester.

In October, the district completed infrastructure improvements to address aging infrastructure, reduce energy expenses, and improve student and staff comfort. Launched in April 2008 and completed at Lakota East and Lakota West high schools and the central office, the $2.45 million in upgrades are anticipated to save more than $195,000 in annual energy costs and more than $62,000 in annual operating costs.

Savings will be enhanced by more than $146,000 in rebates that the district will receive from Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.

The project is funded with a performance contract supported by Ohio's House Bill 264 program. A performance contract is a model that allows building owners to use future energy and operational savings to finance infrastructure improvement projects. It is an option for funding energy saving improvements in buildings that provides measurable business results. By managing and optimizing energy use, schools can leverage operational savings to support strategic educational objectives.

"It's great in these tight budgetary times that we were able to improve the teaching and learning environment while generating energy and operational savings," said Mike Taylor, superintendent, Lakota Schools. "Because we are able to pay for the improvements through these savings, we can focus our capital budget on other needs in the district."

Award for Energy Leadership to Recognize Lakota Schools Administrators

Administrators at Lakota Schools will receive the "Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award" for their sustainable energy and operational efficiency improvements. The award recognizes the importance of the upgrades and administrators' commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Details of the award presentation:

* Jim Zavesky and Bob Haun, education market account executives for Trane, will present the award to Mike Taylor, superintendent, Lakota Schools.
* The awards presentation will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the Thunderbird Room at the Lakota Central Office, 5572 Princeton Road, Liberty Township, Ohio.

The "Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award" honors a school that has completed building improvements that optimize the teaching and learning environment and increase operational efficiency.

Energy Conservation Measures Customized for Lakota Schools

To identify the appropriate energy conservation measures for the district, administrators first completed an energy audit and building assessment. Based on their findings, they selected the energy conservation measures that best meet the district's need for improved energy and operational efficiency.

Upgrades included CO2-based demand control ventilation and dynamic air cleaners, which were installed to provide outdoor air ventilation based on actual rather than assumed room occupancy. This increased energy efficiency and also improved indoor air quality, which can have a direct impact on student and staff comfort and health.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls were updated to provide better scheduling of component runtimes for energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Variable speed pumping was installed to lower pump speed and reduce energy consumption during low load conditions.

To eliminate corrosion issues, galvanized steel cooling towers were replaced with stainless steel cooling towers, which outlast and outperform traditional steel towers. These were installed with variable speed cooling tower fans to reduce energy costs as well as to increase the lifespan of the fan motors.

Existing air handlers were upgraded with variable speed drives to reduce associated fan power and energy costs. In addition, repairs were completed on the original system design to help reduce the risk of damaging the equipment in the future.

Lighting was upgraded to high-efficiency fixtures to save energy and reduce maintenance expenses on failing fixtures and bulbs. Lighting levels were upgraded to enhance student and staff comfort. Several aging HVAC rooftop units were also replaced to reduce operational and energy expenses.

About Lakota Schools

Located in southwestern Ohio, Lakota is the seventh-largest school district in the state, and the largest school district in Butler County. With two high schools, two freshman schools, four junior schools, 10 elementary schools and four early childhood schools, Lakota has grown in the last 20 years from a rural district to a suburban district with a student population of 18,500.

About Trane

Trane, a business of Ingersoll Rand - the world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and energy efficient environments - improves the performance of homes and buildings around the world. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced controls for homes and commercial buildings. For more information, visit www.Trane.com.