Through Energy Trust’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program, the Centennial School District facilities team learned how to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort. Custom HVAC control projects at seven of the district’s schools enabled better temperature control, reduced maintenance costs and created a better, more sustainable learning environment.

Centennial School District staff replaced outdated pneumatic controls and compressors that frequently broke down with direct digital controls (DDC) systems throughout 2022 and 2023. The inefficient pneumatic systems weren’t able to maintain consistently comfortable classroom environments and required daily attention from custodians.

These replacements were a result of a comprehensive retro-commissioning process guided by their SEM participation. The new DDC systems resolved comfort and maintenance issues and gave the district’s facilities team greater temperature monitoring and control capabilities.

Centennial School District received over $109,400 in Energy Trust cash incentives for these DDC upgrades and will save an estimated $127,800 a year on utility bills.