By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

RESERVE—Matt Ridley of Siemens Building Technologies Inc. recently presented the St. John School Board with the company’s annual report regarding a partnership with the district begun in 2001.

The school board has a 10-year contract with Siemens to profile the system’s energy use and reduce resultant costs wherever possible.

In the summary, energy use is compared to a baseline number based on energy use before the start of the partnership. The number is adjusted for price changes and climatic fluctuations.

According to the summary, in 2008, the seventh year of the program, the system saved $214,444 in energy-related costs—129 percent of the guaranteed yearly savings of $166,013.

Additionally, the district also saved 1.72 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Because the program is set to end in three years, Board Member Patrick Sanders inquired of Ridley, “When the program ends, where do we go from there?”

Ridley responded at that time the board would be free to modify services as they see fit. He gave the example of St. Charles Parish, which had a similar contract with Siemens and now no longer receives detailed reports from the company but still uses them for maintenance and consultation purposes.

“The reality is, the sooner you talk about it the better,” said Ridley.

Board Member Russ Wise also wondered if Siemens had been in contact with the school system’s consulting firm, CSRS, which is currently in the planning stages of major renovation and construction projects throughout the parish.

“We want to be able to get in on the design level,” Ridley replied.