Integrating Energy Efficiency Upgrades: 2010 School/College Building Expo Attendees to Learn About Combining Improvements with Hands-On Curriculum, Campus Expansion

CHICAGO, May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In today's economic climate, education leaders are pressed to maximize the use of every resource possible. Leaders from two central U.S. schools recently combined energy efficiency upgrades with other projects to improve the learning and teaching environment.

At the upcoming School/College Building Expo, Scott Krull, central territory vice president, HVAC-R operations for Trane and Hussmann, and Kyle Hayden, district superintendent, Tonganoxie Unified School District (USD) 464, will describe how the district coupled building upgrades with an energy efficiency curriculum to create an integrated hand-on learning experience. Bill Harris, vice president, education markets for Trane and Dr. Jerry Steward, executive vice president for Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), will address how the college combined a significant campus expansion with energy efficiency improvements.

Tonganoxie USD 464-Curriculum Community Facility: Keys to Creating a High Performance Learning Environment

When Tonganoxie USD 464 embarked on a major energy and infrastructure improvement project, administrators envisioned far more than efficient classrooms and reliable systems. Krull and Hayden will outline how the district took the project into the classroom, coupling building upgrades with an energy efficiency curriculum to create an integrated, hands-on learning experience. The recently completed infrastructure upgrades are expected to save $217,000 a year in operations, maintenance and utilities costs.

Students conducted a preliminary energy audit of their school, analyzed the results and got the community involved, writing letters to local legislators. These letters resulted in a visit with Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson and were attached to a state energy bill signed that day. Attendees will gain tips and guidance on linking building initiatives to curriculum for an enhanced student learning experience. They will also learn how Tonganoxie's interactive energy program generated community- and state-wide involvement and support.

OCCC-Community College Combines Expansion with Energy Saving Improvements

Fueled by growth in community college attendance, college enrollment hit an all-time high in October 2008, according to a Pew Research Report released last fall. Oklahoma City Community College, one of the nation's largest community colleges understands this explosive growth first-hand. In 2009, the school anticipated record enrollment, which had already grown from 1,200 to 19,000 in just 35 years.

Harris and Steward will describe how the rapidly growing school tied an extensive campus upgrade, including a 30 percent increase in square footage, with energy-saving upgrades. The improvements decreased energy usage by nearly 35 percent from 2003-2008 and optimized the learning environment while making the school more environmentally responsible.

Conference attendees will gain tips for assessing current infrastructure systems and evaluating potential improvements on their own campuses. They will learn how to apply similar methodologies to their own schools while aligning them with educational, environmental and budgetary objectives.

About School/College Building Expo

Taking place May 11-13, 2010, the joint event between School Building Expo and College Building Expo will include a series of combined and specialized sessions and will feature an array of respected speakers chosen to promote greater education and innovation for the rapidly evolving educational facility design and construction industry.  Conference website: http://www.schoolbuildingexpo.com.

About Harris

Bill Harris serves as vice president, education markets for Trane. Harris is responsible for leading and executing the strategic objectives for K-12 and higher education vertical markets in collaboration with territory vice presidents in North America.

Formerly serving as district manager in Connecticut, he has been with Trane since 2000 where he has held various roles with increasing responsibility.

Harris received an electronic engineering degree from Pennco Technical Institute and is an active member of his community. He also sits on the board of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and is the vice chair of Northwest Catholic High School's board.

About Krull

Scott Krull serves as U.S. central territory vice president for HVAC-R operations for the Hussmann and Trane commercial businesses. He previously held the role for the Western United States. Krull offers 25 years of experience with Ingersoll Rand in operations, engineering, sales and marketing roles.

Previously, Krull served as vice president of service and contracting for the Hussmann refrigeration business. This followed relocation from Shanghai, China, where he served as vice president and general manager for the Construction Technologies sector and the Compact Vehicles Technologies sector of Ingersoll Rand in China. Krull also served as vice president of company-owned stores with global responsibility for company construction equipment retail stores.

He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and completed the Advanced Management Degree program from Duke University.

About Trane

Trane, a business of Ingersoll Rand - the world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and energy efficient environments - improves the performance of homes and buildings around the world. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced controls for homes and commercial buildings.  For more information, visit www.Trane.com.

SOURCE Trane