Etowah schools undergoing energy upgrades

Etowah County Schools have begun an 18-month facilities upgrade which school officials say will eventually save the system more than half a million dollars a year and reduce its energy consumption by more than a third.  The upgrade is part of a 20-year partnership with Schneider Electric and work will begin this summer, eventually spreading to the systems' 20 campuses.  Total improvements will cost $12.2 million.  Among the planned improvements are upgrades to the school system's lighting, HVAC system replacements at four sites, a district wide power management system, installing energy meters throughout the district, and water improvements to reduce consumption by 100 million gallons.  Schneider has been involved in similar projects at school systems in Alabama and throughout the country.