The useful life of district HVAC systems is extended through a preventive maintenance program. For instance, one district employee changes filters eight hours a day every day. Coils are cleaned and belts are checked, then replaced when necessary. Even so, the units are aging, and break down more frequently than is desirable.

When aging units are replaced with new, energy-efficient units, they are also connected to the district’s energy management system. That means the district is able to control and schedule the operation of these units from a central location, and no longer have to rely on people in the building to remember to shut them down or turn them on. That can all be scheduled to happen automatically, which conserves energy and saves money.

• Replace heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment/controls at Ralph Downs Elementary School at a cost of $752,000
• Replace heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment/controls in the entire original building at Will Rogers Elementary School at a cost of $1million
• Replace rooftop heating and air-conditioning units for classrooms at Putnam City North High School at a cost of $600,000
• Replace heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment/controls for all classrooms (except in two new additions) at Hefner Middle School at a cost of $2.6 million
• Replace rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for band rooms, gymnasiums and tech ed areas of Western Oaks Middle School at a cost of $670,000
• Replace and upgrade heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment/controls in the kitchen at Mayfield Middle School at a cost of $200,000