Ash Grove R-4 commits to efficiency

Energy efficiency outfit Entegrity, based out of Little Rock, Ark. successfully pitched the idea of making Ash Grove School District buildings more efficient, at last week's Ash Grove Board of Education meeting.  

A team including former Ash Grove Superintendent Kyle Collins offered three different options to the board beginning with LED lightbulb upgrades and climbing to full on solar energy, all in the name of money savings through kept energy.

When it came time to decide, the board opted not to table the matter but to commit—unanimously—to the middle-of-the-road plan. This package includes updating all lighting to LED, water conservation measures, updating all HVAC controls and HVAC replacements, which will be given extra consideration and to work in concert with the 2025 bond issue project.

The total cost of the commitment was stated to be $748,766. A big number but a number that also comes with a guarantee of savings from the company. If the savings aren't realized, the district is due a check for the difference from Entegrity. Company representatives, however, shared that their operation had never had to pay out for efficiency shortcomings.

The board's next meeting is slated for April 15, which gives the board more time to decide if they'd like to go further in their commitment to Entegrity.