March 29, 2024

NV receives recognition for energy efficiency

GREENFIELD – The results are in and Nodaway Valley Community Schools has been heralded once again for its decision to build its new elementary school with energy efficiency in mind.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities was in Greenfield last Wednesday to present NV Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau, on behalf of the school district, the Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Award. The award was announced at IAMU’s annual conference Oct. 12.

NV’s elementary school was completed at the beginning of last school year. The facility replaced a building that was built in the late 1950s.

“This is one of our awards we give away to our member’s customers. There’s a nomination process, then we select deserving projects that are mostly in community businesses, schools, churches, major employers,” said Troy DeJoode, executive director of IAMU. “They range in scope from lighting projects to heating and ventilation projects to just about anything you can think of. It’s always great to get out in communities and see our members to see the projects they’re doing in real life because a lot of times I’m just stuck behind a desk.”

According to a press release from Jessica Foster, assistant Office Manager at Greenfield Municipal Utilities, one of IAMU’s members, GMU nominated Nodaway Valley Community School District in August for a customer recognition award at IAMU’s annual conference. The nomination process was for awards that would highlight customers who have completed a significant energy efficiency or renewable energy project. NV was one of five nominations that received the award, Foster reports.

NV has worked hand in hand with GMU locally to increase and maintain energy efficiency in the new school. Those measures have included installing geothermal heating and cooling, installing occupancy sensors for all areas, daylight sensors in classrooms, LED lighting throughout the building and having energy efficient kitchen equipment.

NV was also presented with a rebate check of $35,507 by GMU in December of last year because of the energy efficient products and procedures that are included in the new building.

“GMU would like to congratulate NVCSD for their efforts to make the new building energy efficient and for being chosen for this award,” Foster said.

Berlau said he and the staff at NV are very pleased with their new building and the ways it has served the district thus far. He was able to give GMU Executive Director Scott Tonderum, Foster and DeJoode a tour of the building to highlight for them some of the energy efficient and renewable energy measures that are being taken throughout the building that houses pre-kindergarten through fifth-graders.

“We really appreciate everything that GMU did during the construction process and the design,” Berlau said. “I really feel we worked together in the areas that we could to make sure the building was efficient and those sorts of things. They’re really supportive and we really appreciate the recognition. We’re really happy with the building and I think it’s going to serve the communities and their kids for a lot of years to come.”