Members of the Bethlehem Area School board were updated Oct. 6 on the district's energy consumption and savings.

At the committee meeting, Arir Fazil, principal engineer at D'Huy Engineering in Bethlehem, went over some the successes of the school district's energy plan, which was implemented in the 2008-2009 school year. He said the school district not only saved more energy in 2013-2014 than in 2008-2009, but also saved almost $1.5 million.

To illustrate this, Fazil showed a baseline profile comparing the energy use and cost in 2008-2009 and the 2013-2014 school years. According to the profile, BASD used more than 219 million kilowatt Btu's in 2008-2009 at a cost of nearly $4.7 million. At that time, D'Huy theorized that the 2013-2014 school year usage would increase to more than 226 million kilowatt BTUs, but with a slight increase in cost due to the energy savings measures. The reality proved better than the fiction. In 2013-2014, the school district actually dropped usage to just under 180 million kilowatt Btu's and reduced costs to $3.1 million, resulting in the $1.5 million savings. This was also during one of the harshest winters in that period, he noted.

Fazil said, "Twenty-three of 25 of our facilities are below the national average in energy use."

He went on to explain that during times of peak usage, the school district used an average of 1, 744 kW for an average annual savings of $81,986. In 2008, the district was using 3,074 kW during peak usage. Just by replacing light bulbs with LED lights netted an annual savings of $14, 941, he said.

Fazil said they have accomplished many of the goals set in the energy plan, but one big priority is lighting. The lighting projects implemented by the school district were accomplished through Act 129 rebate program. The district replaced exterior lighting fixtures worth $100,000 to accomplish the energy saving options. There were no upfront costs to the district, he explained. But more savings could be accomplished by replacing more lighting fixtures.

One goal D'Huy set for the district is to attain the Energy Star rating in all of the district's buildings. Fazil said in the entire state of Pennsylvania, there are only 52 school buildings with the rating and 16 of them are in the Bethlehem school district. It's an accomplishment, but he wants to see all 25 BASD buildings receive the rating. Although a goal, lighting isn't the only project for the school district though.

Board member Sudantha Vidanage said he'd like to see the lighting projects completed and asked if this could be moved up in priority.

Mark Stein, director of facilities for BASD, said the lighting produces a savings over a seven-year period, whereas other projects yield a larger savings in one year.

Board member Michele Cann said, "We don't have the money to direct into lighting (at this time)."