Miscalculations to ultimately save district money
When the Mt. Lebanon School Board decided to proceed with plans to complete the engineering work on the middle and elementary schools there were many unknowns, including the costs associated with the air-conditioning project.
After nearly one month, some of those questions have been answered.
One particular area that will save the district money moving forward are the yearly operation and maintenance fees. They were incorrect in previous estimates done by the district.
“Back in February, we prepared an estimate of operating and maintenance costs and prepared it based on what Trane Inc. has given to us on Washington and Lincoln elementary schools,” said district project manager Rick Marciniak.
That information, including some additional minor costs, was extrapolated by using square footage for the buildings rather than costs based on the size of each individual chiller unit per school.
The nine units, ranging from 150 to 170 tons, was originally calculated to cost the district more than $130,000 yearly. However, those numbers decreased to approximately $60,300 for operation and maintenance for the nine units needed by the district.
“These schools aren’t completely designed so it’s hard to calculate until the design is complete,” said Marciniak. “These numbers will become more and more revised.”
Board members asked Marciniak and Trane Inc. representative Doug Campbell if the multi-storied, older buildings would be able to regulate their temperatures without the bottom levels of the school being well below a comfortable temperature.
Campbell said that the possibility of controlling that will be within the design. The design could also accommodate floors of particular buildings used during the summer months.
Trane and CJL have visited all schools in need of air conditioning with the exception of one, which will be done this week. They plan to present a revised agreement for the total cost of the project to the board at a December meeting.