NewBrook Energy Project

Economically Sound and Environmentally Responsible

May 2014



















































Project Overview
Electricity from Solar & Heat from Air Pumps
In light of NewBrook Elementary Schools failing
boilers, the Brookline-Newfane Joint Contract Board
has devoted a great deal of time and energy over the
past three years to exploring the use of renewable
energy to heat the building.
Early on in the process, the School Board identified the
following goals to help guide its thinking:
Go as green as possible while remaining
fiscally responsible;
Reduce or eliminate the schools carbon
footprint;
Provide opportunities for student learning
regarding the value of investing in renewable
energy;
Promote use of renewable energy in
educational facilities in Vermont.
After considerable research, consultations with experts
in the field of renewable energy and several public
information meetings with Brookline and Newfane
residents, the Board is ready to take the plunge! It is
proposing a ground-mounted array of solar panels
in the field next to the school building. This photovoltaic
system would generate enough electricity
(approximately 250 KW) to meet the schools current
and projected future energy use. It would also be sized
to provide the electricity needed to run the new
proposed heating and cooling system, using air-to-air
heat pumps.

Economic Impact
A Wise Investment that Combats Climate Change
The School Board proposes financing this investment
in the schools energy future through:
A solar lease for the solar system; and
A loan to pay for installation of the
heating/cooling system.
If approved by the voters, the School Board will put
both projects out to bid. Then, the school will:
Identify a 3
rd
party to cover the cost of installing
and maintaining the solar panels. The school
will only be charged for the energy that the
system generates. The school will most likely
have the option to buy the solar system from
the owner down the road.
Use the loan to pay a contractor (identified
through the bidding process) to install the air-
to-air heat pumps. The School Board proposes
a municipal bank loan to pay for the
heating/cooling system, which would be paid
off in 5 years.
The impact of both projects on the school budget
and the education tax rate would be minimal.
(Financial details will be available shortly on the
schools website and will provided at the informational
meeting as well as at the meeting before the actual
vote and on the schools website.) The cost of the
lease would be offset by drastically reduced oil costs,
which currently total about $20,000 annually. (The
school will need to maintain the boilers as a back-up
heating system.) Some of the cost of the
heating/cooling system would be offset by funds put
aside over the past two years to pay for replacing the
aging boilers. The remaining expense would be
covered by a $150,000 municipal loan, which would be
paid off within 5 years.






































Brookline-Newfane Joint Contract School Board
c/o NewBrook Elementary School
14 School Street
Newfane, VT 05345



ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED





I NFORMATI ON MEETI NG
Thursday, June 5
th

7-8 PM
All-Purpose Room
NewBrook Elementary School

VOTE ON PROPOSED LEASE & LOAN
FOR ENERGY PROJECT
Joint Meeting of Brookline & Newfane Voters
Thursday, June 12
th

7 PM
All-Purpose Room
NewBrook Elementary School


For More Information
Solar leasing:
http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf
/FinancingProgramsResourceGuide.pdf (see
pp. 43-45).
Air-to-air heat pump technology:
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/heat-
pump-systems.
Contact NewBrook Elementary School
Principal Chris Pratt at
cpratt@newbrookschool.org or 365-7533.
Contact School Board Chair Ken McFadden at
kmcfadden@windhamcentralboard.org or 365-
7122.
Visit the schools website at
www.newbrookschool.org and look for a link to
the energy project.

Energy Project Updat 3