South Huntington School District gets LIPA energy rebate

The South Huntington School District recently received a rebate of $606,000 from LIPA, thanks to the district’s energy saving program.

The district hired ECG Engineering LLC in 2008 to identify the district’s potential for an Energy Performance Contract, a program that districts must apply for through the state Education Department and that requires a series of energy conservation upgrades that must be approved by the state before any work can begin.

After getting the green light from the state, district officials began an $11 million energy efficiency contract that was intended to reduce energy usage by 34 percent. ECG, the district’s energy consultant and engineer, designed the project, oversaw the construction, and verified actual energy savings. Ameresco Inc. managed the project, which began in 2011. The district estimates it will save more than $15 million over the next 18 years. District officials said the money saved on energy costs, plus state aid, will pay for the purchase and installation of new equipment including a solar array on the roof of Walt Whitman High School, new lighting and sensors that automatically turn off those lights, and new thermostatic controls to regulate heat throughout the district.

In addition to the LIPA rebates, the district will see an additional $273,000 in rebates from National Grid, for a total of $879,000 in utility rebates received, officials said.