The Oxford Hills School District has aggressively attacked its energy costs in a way that could serve as a model, not only for other school districts but for businesses and homeowners, as well.

The district has worked over the past four years with Siemens Inc. to make energy-saving improvements to its facilities, including solar panels, a windmill and LED lighting.

Under the contract with Siemens, the costs are paid out of guaranteed energy savings to each year’s operating budget.

Each year, Siemens must reach a savings target. This year, that target was $239,329, but the actual savings were more, $288,614.

Over the life of the four-year program, the guaranteed savings target was $879,614, but the total savings to the district were about $1.3 million, a difference of about $400,000.

The best part is that the energy-saving changes are in place and the district will benefit for decades to come.

The savings will be even greater when a new biomass furnace goes into service at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

District officials believe the high school is the only school in the state utilizing four forms of alternative energy: biomass for heat, solar panels to heat water, a windmill to supplement its electric supply and a photovoltaic system to generate electricity to run water pumps.

The biomass boiler alone is expected to save the district as much as $129,000 per year.

The work by Siemens includes a variety of upgrades to energy control systems, lighting and even a computer at the high school to show everyone how the district is cutting costs and protecting the environment.

As many have pointed out, Maine is extremely vulnerable to unpredictable oil prices. Most of the state’s homes and businesses are heated with oil, plus many of us must drive long distances to work and shop.

The Oxford Hills School District’s energy project is a great example of how our state must use a combination of conservation and alternative energy to secure a better future.

rrhoades@sunjournal.com

The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and editorial board.