The District is undertaking a state-of-the-art energy and water efficiency retrofit of all its facilities, which vary in age from 30 to nearly 90 years old. The project is being carried out with third-party financing and the savings are insured by an insurance company.

Prism was hired to carry out a detailed energy and water audit for 41 schools to determine savings potential. Energy management measures that were identified and implemented include boiler efficiency upgrades, direct digital control systems, carbon dioxide sensors to sense occupancy and control ventilation in gyms, urinal shutoff-valve controls via direct digital control system, and motion sensors for vending machines. All fluorescent lighting was replaced with more efficient sources, including new fixtures.

A simple but interesting part of the project was the addition of portable cooling units. These units were hooked up to the aquaria that elementary schools use for their salmon-enhancement programs, eliminating the need to run the water all the time to keep temperatures cool.