Calhan's kids get cool new heating system
May 2010
Stifling. Stuffy. Hot. Those were once the conditions that Calhan’s teachers and students bravely endured when the weather turned warm in the Colorado town, located in eastern part of the state. All that will change in the fall, when McKinstry is set to install a ground source heat pump system, a more efficient source of generating the needed energy to both warm and cool the school district’s facilities. The new systems will reduce the district's energy cost by 30%.
Last week the Calhan community, local leaders, students, and McKinstry came out in force to celebrate the impending project, due for completion in the fall. The event provided a convenient excuse for the Calhan community to mingle with friends and neighbors over refreshments and get an education about the ground source pump system that will harness the Earth's temperature to provide a more comfortable indoor environment for its students, teachers, and administrators.
Before the main festivities McKinstry held a special session for Calhan’s children to answer their questions about the new system. Naturally the youngsters were enthusiastic about the new system – which, in addition to ground source heating and cooling including lighting improvements.
Colorado Senator Michael Bennett was scheduled to appear; however, even though his hectic schedule kept him in Washington he was definitely present at Calhan in spirit. A letter from the Senator brought and read by an aide offered a message of encouragement and praise to all in attendance and thanked the project team for their efforts on behalf of Calhan.
In a surprise turn of events that astonished and delighted attendees and invited guests, McKinstry awarded a generous scholarship of $1000 to Calhan high schooler Casey DeLisle who will be heading to Nursing School in the fall.
Said one Senate staffer: “That was amazing; very touching. It brought tears to my eyes that you would consider doing this…”
Following the public event, which included a presentation and tour of the loop field under construction, a luncheon was given for members of the project team and others instrumental in helping make the project a reality. “We wanted to show our deepest appreciation and gratitude for the time, dedication, and hard work that went into getting this project up to speed,” said McKinstry Operations Manager, Chris Larocque.
A full three quarters of the project was funded with grants from the Colorado Department of Education’s BEST Program, the Department of Local Affairs, and the Governor’s Energy Office.
