WHAT HAPPENEDBradley County received $221,000 from the state's Energy Efficient Schools Initiative. Of that, $183,500 is approved for a geothermal heating system at Park View Elementary.
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Park View Elementary School is getting a big boost from the state to install an energy-efficient geothermal system.
Geothermal heating involves a system of underground wells and pipes built to take advantage of the heat inside the earth. Several schools in the Cleveland city system have geothermal heating.
Bradley County will receive $221,000 from the state's Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, said Johnny Mull, the county school system's energy manager. Of that amount, $183,500 has been approved to fund a geothermal system at the new school being built on Minnis Road.
Last year the state Legislature set aside $90 million from lottery funds for statewide school energy needs, Mr. Mull said.
Bradley County will buy the geothermal equipment and be reimbursed by the state, he said.
"Utility costs continue to rise at rates that concern me," Mr. Mull said. "Us going geothermal is something I am very proud to see, because I think it will lower those costs tremendously. Obviously the front-end cost for geothermal is more."
The rest of the county's money from the initiative will be used for lighting and other items such as more efficient kitchen equipment, Mr. Mull said.
The county school system began its energy conservation about a decade ago, saving millions of dollars since then, officials said.
Three years ago the school board agreed to a loan to install energy-efficient lighting.
Budget manager Rick Smith said the school system pays $141,000 a year.
"This spring will be our third payment of $141,000," Mr. Smith said. "We will have four years to go."
Mr. Mull said the lights have cut the school system's lighting costs by about a third.
He and Mr. Smith agreed the system should not pursue other loans until existing ones are paid off or paid down.