Boiler conversions at schools expected to save Andover $200K
ANDOVER — Natural gas heat is saving taxpayers money and will be available in all public school buildings next month.
The conversion in recent years to dual-fuel boilers that can burn oil or natural gas helped the town avoid a large energy budget deficit last year, according to plant and facilities director Joe Piantedosi.
Summer projects to convert Andover High, West Middle, Shawsheen Primary, and South Elementary schools to dual-fuel boilers are all expected to be completed before school starts Sept. 4, Piantedosi said.
Completion of the projects will mean that all town and school facilities, aside from the buildings at Spring Grove Cemetery, will have the ability to burn natural gas, which is twice as cheap as heating oil.
Four other school buildings were converted to dual-fuel burners two years ago.
Previously all 10 public school buildings were exclusively heated by oil-burning boilers.
Piantedosi said the conversion to natural gas at Andover High and West Middle schools should save more than $200,000 next year alone.
All town and school departments were under budget for their anticipated heating energy costs last year, causing a $93,000 surplus despite "skyrocketing" utility prices, Piantedosi said.
Piantedosi presented a year-end energy report to selectmen last night in which the town experienced a $166,000 overall energy deficit last year, roughly $150,000 of which was to power Andover's water treatment plant.
Andover's energy budget was $4.1 million in fiscal 2008.
The town signed a three-year natural gas contract that begins in November.
Piantedosi said the contract will help ensure the energy savings continue.
