FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PROJECT NOTIFICATION
As part of our district’s ongoing commitment to improving school building infrastructures and the environment, this notification is to inform all students, staff, and visitors of important work that will be occurring at Kelly Lane Primary School and Wells Road Intermediate School beginning June 1 through the remainder of the school year. Beginning Friday, May 29, both sites will be inaccessible as perimeter fencing for the construction zone is scheduled to be delivered and installed that day. Once installed, the fenced project area will remain inaccessible 24/7 for the duration of the project. Work performed during this remaining school year will be mostly site prep, there will be no propane gas on site until later this summer when the new system is operational and being tested for the fall heating season.
Q: What’s the project all about?
A: Kelly Lane and Wells Road are the last 2 schools in the district whose heating systems run on conventional heating fuel delivered via underground storage tanks (UST’s). As part of a long-term capital projects commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, we will be removing these underground tanks and converting to above-ground propane tanks as a cleaner fuel source to heat our schools and domestic hot water, as has been done previously at the Middle School and High School.
Q; Is propane better than heating oil?
A: Propane has a lower carbon content than other fossil fuels, which means that it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions when burned. According to the Propane Education & Research Council, propane emits 43% less greenhouse gas emissions than coal and 15% less than heating oil or kerosene. Propane is not just a fossil fuel, but it can also be produced from renewable sources such as leftover crops and waste from farms, as well as from gases produced by landfills and wastewater treatment plants. This means that propane can be considered a renewable energy source and can help to reduce our dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Because propane is so energy-efficient, it requires less fuel to produce the same amount of heat as other fossil fuels. This means that propane users can reduce their overall energy consumption, which can lead to lower energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Q: How will the building operations be affected?
A: The work has not been scheduled to commence until after the heating season has ended and boilers have been shut down for the season based on local and state guidelines, so no building operations will be affected.
Q: Why is this work occurring during the school year instead of over the summer when the buildings are empty?
A: Based on materials lead times, contractor availability, time needed to complete the tank removal, propane installation, boiler burner conversion to propane, and testing we need to complete the project in ample time to go through the inspection and startup operations phases to ensure the new systems are 100% ready for the fall heating season.
Q: What areas of the schools are work being performed in?
A: Attached are maps for each school outlining the construction zones for this project. There will be protective fencing around the perimeters of each school’s project. In areas where they abut the physical school buildings, any building doors within that zone will not be accessible for use.
Q: How will daily school operations be affected?
A: Please speak to your building administrator regarding any changes to items such as bus routes, field use, etc.
Q: I have other questions about these projects, who do I contact?A: Project Manager and Director of Facilities Chris DeGray at 860-844-5256 or degrayc@granbyschools.org.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this important upgrade work.