Home

Steamboat Springs — A work crew toiled in the Hayden High School and middle school boiler room Monday, tearing out asbestos insulation and prepping the room for new high-efficiency boilers.

"We have boilers that are past their life expectancy with major issues," said Hayden Superintendent Mike Luppes. "So we are going to replace them at no cost to the district before it happens someday where the boilers go out when it's 30 (degrees) below (zero).

South Routt School District officials are asking voters in November to help pay for a new heating system, but Luppes found an alternative to using tax dollars - he asked the boiler manufacturer to fund the purchase.

The district agreed in July to a 15-year lease-purchase agreement with the McKinstry Company of Evergreen, which will replace three, 30-year-old boilers with new energy-efficient units in exchange for an annual payment corresponding to the anticipated dollar value of energy savings.

In August 2008, the district will begin transferring anticipated energy savings to McKinstry with a $49,000 payment. The fees, which were established after a July energy audit by company officials, will increase annually for 15 years, capping at $66,000.

"We have a set amount we will be returning to them for the length of the agreement. And after that, we are free and clear," he said. "After 15 years, all the savings will be ours."

During the course of the 15-year agreement, the district will pay McKinstry $557,160 in fees.

"For us, the big thing is to get the boilers replaced because of the cost," he said. "If we tried to do it ourselves it would be cost prohibitive."

In addition to new boilers, the district will also receive lighting upgrades and a computerized heating control system, along with other energy-efficient items that should all be installed before Christmas break.

"Basically what happens is that they are guaranteeing savings in our energy bills and all savings will be given to them as their fee," Luppes said. "If the savings are less than they predict, then they are responsible for meeting that. That's how confident they are that we are going to be saving that kind of money."

New Hayden High School teacher Sonia Salberg sweated out the first day of school in one of the building's interior rooms. With no windows and no air conditioning, the small room made for a stuffy afternoon.

"I didn't realize how hot it got in here, especially with 20 kids," she said.

Luppes said that new ductwork will increase airflow to classrooms, which will provide a small increase in the comfort level, but installing an air conditioning system in district schools is cost prohibitive.

McKinstry has also agreed to upgrade light fixtures in the school to improve energy efficiency.

On Monday, two fluorescent overhead lights flickered on and off in the Luppes' office. Gesturing to the ceiling, the superintendent said he hopes McKinstry starts light fixture upgrades in his office before the flicker drives him crazy.

"But these things are expensive," he said. "I'll tough it out until they replace this all for free."