2004

For Immediate Release: 4/22/04
Contact: Jean Donovan 1-866-697-3732, ext. 3516

NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNIZED AS A STATE LEADER DURING SCHOOL BUILDING WEEK

Calling the North Syracuse Central School District "a model for New York State," Peter R. Smith, President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), commended the district for its building practices and efforts that improve the health and safety of its students, teachers, and staff. Smith delivered his remarks today during a ceremony at Roxboro Elementary School.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kathleen Gramet stated "The North Syracuse School District is proud to install systems and materials that will enable our students and staff to benefit from a 'high performance school'. In addition, we owe it to our taxpayers to maintain energy-efficient buildings that reduce operating costs while promoting higher student performance."

"Governor Pataki has a vision that New York's children will attend classes in buildings that are healthy and promote learning. He also envisions that they will travel to and from school in school buses that produce less emissions. These goals are being accomplished right here at the North Syracuse Central School District," said Smith. "Dr. Gramet, School Board members, school officials and residents are to be commended for their foresight and efforts in realizing the benefits of healthy schools. This district has become a model for others all over New York State."

Senator John A. DeFrancisco stated, "This is a proud moment for the residents of the North Syracuse Central School District. As a model for other schools in New York State, you have proven that it is possible to build energy-efficient, high-performance school buildings that promote learning and save the taxpayers money on their investment."

The North Syracuse Central School District has partnered with NYSERDA, the New York State Education Department, Ashley McGraw Architects P.C., C&S Engineers, and Ross Wilson and Associates on projects in the District. These projects have provided energy efficient, environmental upgrades that offer healthier school buildings for the children, faculty, and staff. NYSERDA has provided technical design assistance and incentives to help the District install these measures amounting to approximately $194,000. Among the projects that have taken place at various schools include the replacement of electric chillers with natural gas chillers, lighting upgrades, lighting controls, and ventilation system upgrades. These programs were funded through the New York Energy $mart^SM New Construction Program and the Smart Equipment Choices Program.

NYSERDA has also approved more than $153,000 in incentives to reduce the emissions in 98 of the District's diesel fueled school buses. This will be accomplished by retrofitting the buses with diesel oxidation catalyst emission reduction devices. Funding for this project came from Governor Pataki's 1996 Clear Water/Clean Air Bond Act and was administered by NYSERDA to the North Syracuse Central School District through the New York State Clean Air School Bus Program.

Recently, the North Syracuse Central School District and NYSERDA partnered on a new and more comprehensive construction project at the Roxboro Middle School, which places the District on the cutting edge of high-performance, school building design. The District plans to meet or exceed at least 26 environmental and energy-efficiency standards set by the United States Green Building Council. Buildings that meet these standards receive what is commonly called a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) certification. Only three buildings in New York have achieved this comprehensive standard, and another 50 buildings owners in New York State have registered their intent to do so with the U.S. Green Building Council.

As a high-performance school, the building will incorporate advanced daylighting strategies, state-of-the-art acoustic management strategies, improved ventilation creating better quality classroom air, germ-killing hardware on doors, increased safety and security, as well as improved thermal comfort. In short, the school is being designed to maximize health and safety, while at the same time minimizing the burden to local tax payers as compared to a school designed to standard practices.

All New York Energy $mart^SM programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of participating utilities. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds under an agreement with the Public Service Commission. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers (residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) of Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric.

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Case Study (91kb .pdf)