Byron Center Public Schools are implementing numerous
eco-friendly practices, including new heating systems.
from white to black roofs because they absorb and hold
more solar energy, which helps by not having to utilize
our heating systems as much.”
Water consumption at the Nichols Building
When it was built in 1968, the “Nichols” building was
originally the district’s high school. Since then, it’s been
repurposed as the 5th and 6th grade intermediate school.
When studying the exorbitant energy costs from years
past, Gallup discovered there was a 750-gallon hot water
tank continuously heating water for 32 showers at the
Nichols building. In its high school years, the showers at
Nichols were likely used frequently following gym classes.
“Kids in fifth and sixth grade don’t shower after gym
class,” chuckled Gallup. “They spray on some Axe and
call it good.”
Gallup worked with a local rep agency to find the best
manufacturer for a high efficiency solution for the locker
room project. Through the rep firm, he was introduced to
Byron Center Public Schools’ Doug Gallup plans to next
invest in variable-speed motors, insulation and thermal
imaging in order to help save money and energy.
Van Culberson, the regional manager for Laars Heating
Systems.
“It turns out, we’re practically neighbors,” explained
Gallup. “We like their products, and I can send my maintenance
faculty to their rep training facility. An added
plus was seeing that tax dollars were spent locally.”
The solution: they kept the showers, but now a single,
199-gallon, high-efficiency Laars UHE condensing water
heater manages the task of heating domestic water for
the entire school, and handles the needs with stride.
They tapped Grand
Rapids, MI-based
Godwin Plumbing &
Heating for all the
plumbing and mechanical
The new, much more efficient
heating systems at Byron Center
Public Schools are saving
the district roughly
$400,000 per year.
work at the
school district.
David Breuker,
project controller/
estimator at Godwin
Plumbing, says he
sends his technicians
to Bradford White for
training on new technology,
and has always
been impressed
with the products.
“The gas-fired
UHE runs at a 99%
efficiency rate,” said
Breuker. “That costs a
whole lot less to operate
than the 750-gallon
tank that was in
the Nichols building
previously.”
Breuker added that if the need should ever arise, a
second UHE could be put next to (or stacked on top of)
the existing one.
Heating, too
Next, Gallup turned his sights to two 4-million BTU
“energy hog” boilers in the Nichols’ mechanical room,
chugging away at 72% efficiency.
“After putting our heads together, Van and I decided
that a 3-million BTU Laars NeoTherm condensing boiler
would be our best option for primary heating of the Nichols
building,” said Gallup. “We chose to keep the old ones
there for backup—necessary on single digit days.”
The gas-fired, modulating boiler runs at 95% efficiency
and serves all of the heating needs at Nichols.
“The gas and electric savings in that building are noth
6 ICM/July/August 2019