This graphic shows the projected savings from the guaranteed energy savings contract between Center Grove Schools and CMTA Engineers. Screenshot from CMTA Engineers
Center Grove Community School Corporation is planning a heavy investment in renewable energy.
The Center Grove School Board approved a $17 million guaranteed energy savings contract that will save money on utility costs for the district and make the district home to the first two net zero schools in Indiana.
The project is guaranteed to save the school district $22 million over the next 20 years. If that doesn’t happen, the engineering firm overseeing the project will be responsible for the cost, the contract says. If Center Grove saves more as a result of the project, the district would retain the excess savings.
CMTA Engineers, a national expert in designing sustainable K-12 schools, spent several months surveying lighting control systems and solar potential to come up with the project. The project will allow the district to free up utility and maintenance costs and use the savings to pay off the project and fund future renovations, CMTA Engineer partner Johnathan Gasser said.
Several schools and facilities will be equipped with rooftop and ground mount solar including the high school, Middle School Central, two elementary schools and the district’s planned employee wellness center. The project will also recommission existing solar at Walnut Grove Elementary to make them more energy efficient. The projects would be bid in the spring and completed next fall.
Maple Grove Elementary will receive a geothermal HVAC renovation that includes replacing equipment and creating a geothermal well field. The Maple Grove renovation is expected to save nearly 1 million kWh of electricity and $144,555.
The guaranteed savings contract could make Sugar Grove Elementary and Maple Grove Elementary School the first net zero energy schools in the state. A net zero building produces as much energy as it consumes, for a net zero impact to the power grid.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for this school district to put two schools and kind of take them off the board from an energy perspective where they’re going to be producing the same or more than they use,” Gasser said. “It’s a really big deal.. Those are 20+-year-old schools and to take them off the grid is a very big deal and something that the district should be really proud of.”
School officials will receive training provided by certified trainers and ongoing monitoring of all systems.
Upon completion, engineers will be able to remotely monitor the systems and identify issues quickly. A huge part of the savings will come from onsite systems controls, according to project engineers.
Center Grove could also take advantage of tax incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act for installing geothermal and solar projects, school officials said.
Bids will be submitted for board approval early next year and the first payment on bonds would begin in 2025. Residents could see a 4-cent tax increase in 2024 because of the project.
Final costs will be determined after bids come in.
