Mold prevention drives up school energy bills

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Mold prevention drives up school energy bills

Published Sat, Mar 30, 2002

By LAURA VON HARTEN

Gazette staff writer

High electric bills are unavoidable to keep school buildings mold-free and

protect the health of students and staff, school district officials said

this week. A 2001 management audit showed that a high energy tab

contributes to the Beaufort County School District's budget problems.

But district officials say the cost is a result of constant operation of

heating and air-conditioning systems in the buildings to prevent buildup of

mold and mildew. In the long run, they say, this saves the district money

while preserving the health of all who use the buildings.

Beaufort County Board of Education member Mike Brandau questioned

Superintendent Herman Gaither about the district's power bill at a board

meeting on Tuesday. The board was looking for answers after Gaither and his

staff announced that the district might face another reduction in state

funding this year.

A reduction in the state's per-pupil contribution in fiscal 2003 is a given

for Beaufort County, Gaither said.

Gaither and the school board expect to have to ask county council to make up

the difference in the district's fund balance for next year's budget.

Brandau told the board that, when the district seeks a funding increase from

council, " We need to assure ourselves, the public and county council that we

are turning the microscope on ourselves. "

He reminded the board of an audit performed in 2001 by KPMG Consulting of

McLean, Va., which showed that the school district's energy expenditures are

double those of similar districts.

The report compared Beaufort's school district with similar districts in the

state, including York 3/Rock Hill, Dorchester 2, Richland 2, Lexington 1,

Lexington 5 and Berkeley.

Gaither told the board the electric bill is high because air conditioners

must operate even when classes are not in session. Air conditioning reduces

humidity levels in school buildings and prevents the growth of molds,

Gaither said.

Tim Connelly, a manager with the school's maintenance contractor, Sodexho,

said " humidity is a major concern " for the district. " You can't put a price

tag on indoor air quality, " Connelly said.

He said preventing mold and mildew with proper ventilation is cheaper than

paying for tests and mold removal later.

For example, a recent air quality test at Battery Creek High School cost the

district $3,000, Connelly said. The consultant who conducted the test came

from Columbia to take air samples at the high school.

It is important for an outside contractor to do the testing, to ensure

objective results, Connelly said.

When asked if the district was making the right decision about year-round

use of air-conditioning, Connelly said, " I think Mr. Gaither is really being

proactive on that. "

Tuckwiller of Carolina Air, a residential heating and cooling service

in Beaufort, said many of his clients leave their air conditioning set at

80-82F when they are away.

" You've got to run it, " he said -- " otherwise it will get humid and you'll

get mold and mildew. "

Tuckwiller said large air conditioners, such as those found in schools, must

treat a high volume of humid outside air. If indoor air is recirculated

through the building, air quality might not meet standards, he said.

One of the ways Connelly and his staff maintain indoor air quality in school

buildings is to equip air conditioners with humidistats.

A humidistat acts much like a thermostat, he said, but it measures relative

humidity instead of temperature.

Ideal relative humidity is 50 to 56 percent, according to Connelly, and most

of the district's humidistats are set at 58 to 60 percent.

When the humidity level rises above the set point, sensors turn on the

air-conditioning unit.

The process isn't an exact science, according to Connelly, because " there

aren't many federal guidelines on mold. "

Von Harten can be reached at 986-5517 or

lvonharten@....