Greening the budget

Marysville Joint Unified is splashing its schools in a shade of green, investing in energy-efficient retrofits and new construction in exchange for rebates and savings from the state and PG&E.

The district is participating in two programs to improve its energy efficiency and environmental consciousness, and has netted $535,000 in rebates and savings as a result, said Michal Healy Lovin, director of planning. By utilizing skylights instead of fluorescents, converting to low-flow toilets and replacing outdated heating and air conditioning units, the schools are becoming better learning atmospheres with a smaller toll on the environment.

"It's very exciting," she said. "It's something the district has been needing for a long time."

Schools should be a starting point for implementing the green movement, she said.

"We know we need to conserve resources for future generations," she said. "Teaching them at school is a very important part of learning and growing up."

Marysville Joint Unified started by participating in the state's High Performance Incentive program, which gives the district points in exchange for completing environmental upgrades and retrofits. The more points the district earns, the more money it receives in project funding, earning $315,700 to date.

It is also active in Pacific Gas & Electric's free Savings by Design program, which operates similarly to the state program but with its own list of potential projects and upgrades. The district can earn points for recycling, new lighting systems, and higher-efficiency heating and air conditioning.

The district's upgrades through Savings by Design have earned it $220,000, and more money is expected to be returned in the next few months as additional projects are completed, Healy Lovin said. Additional savings will come by way of energy consumption reductions.

Many of the improvements took place this summer during new construction and modernization. Some of the district's classrooms are now estimated to be 45 percent more energy efficient than the state average.

From a budget perspective, the changes have great benefits, said district trustee Jim Flurry. The district has a $2.5 million energy bill, so any sort of savings through retrofits, upgrades and conscious construction are a step toward improvement.

"It's the right thing to do. Everybody is trying to make our budget work," he said. " And everybody has to do what they can for our environment."

This environmental shift is an ongoing effort, Healy Lovin said. It's easier to do with new construction but retrofits are also a goal.

"Part of being green is keeping what you have," she said. "We are going back and modernizing buildings and not demolishing them unless we feel they really shouldn't be saved and couldn't be saved."

McKenney Intermediate School is one of the first schools in California to utilize High Performance Incentives on a modernization, she said. It's being used as case study throughout the state and the nation as one of California's High Performing Schools.

Districtwide, it has some of the most notable changes, not only because visitors can see side-by-side comparisons of new and old buildings but the energy savings of remodeling two classroom wings should balance out the energy consumption of the school's new gym, Healy Lovin said.

Yuba Gardens Intermediate School also has a new gym and library. And energy modernizations were completed at Edgewater Elementary, Cedar Lane Elementary and the Lindhurst and Marysville High School science buildings.

At Browns Valley Elementary, thick insulation was installed in the walls and ceilings, heating and air conditioning units were replaced and overhangs were put above the windows so direct sunlight cannot heat up the classrooms.

Arboga Preschool is a prototype classroom building for the district, with skylights, flexible lighting and other improvements that may not be as obvious.

"The students love it, the teachers love it," Healy Lovin said. "I think we'll definitely be building more classrooms like that."

The district's savings are not just in energy and electricity.

Automatic flush valves on the toilets save water and make the bathrooms cleaner. The district also replaced some older toilets and installed low-water usage toilets, which use 1.2 gallons per flush as opposed to 3 gallons, in all new construction

Plans are also in the works for composting. Schools will be able to compost lawn clippings, tree branches and even food from the cafeteria if they want to.

CONTACT Ashley Gebb at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com