The future is looking brighter for the Wiscasset School Department where new LED lighting and windows are improving visibility in the hallways, classrooms and gymnasiums. These and other improvements are part of a $1.5 million project to make the buildings more energy efficient.

Facilities and maintenance director John Merry led reporters on a two-hour tour of Wiscasset Middle High School and Wiscasset Elementary School Tuesday morning. Improvements are also being made at the superintendent of schools office and in the bus garage.

“I’d estimate the contractors have completed about 30 to 35 percent of the entire project,” Merry said making his way through the high school’s main hall crowded with desks, chairs, books, shelving and dozens of other items.

Along with coordinating four different contractors this summer, Merry is supervising the school department’s regular maintenance crew who are busy cleaning the schools and tending to the grounds and athletic fields.

“Other than the new lighting which is a huge improvement, people won’t see or even notice some of the other improvements which are electrical or heating-related,” continued Merry. “Where the school administration will notice them will be in the heating and electrical bills which should begin to drop dramatically this coming winter.”

Merry said  Siemans, the engineering firm that designed the improvements, estimates the school department will save about $45,000 a year in electrical and heating costs. “The lion’s share will be in electrical savings with the new, more energy-efficient LED and motion sensor lighting.”

Other improvements have included replacing a fuel oil-fired boiler at the high school with a more efficient propane one.  “It’ll cost less and furnish the high school with all the hot water needed for the cafeteria, bath and locker rooms,” continued Merry.

A new, forced-air heating system was installed at the superintendent’s building on Gardiner Road and improvements are being made to the heating systems of the other buildings.

The project included replacing 42 of the original wood-framed windows in the high school’s old wing with vinyl ones. The two-story wing was added when the high school was expanded in 1973.

This summer, the school department is also renovating WMHS’s former tech ed./industrial arts space into three separate classrooms and an office. The area will serve as home to the Sheepscot Regional Education Program, or Anchor Program. Merry noted these renovations aren’t part of the energy project, although new windows were installed here.

The sixth, seventh and eight grade classrooms are being moved to the high school’s north wing. Workers are busy here installing new drop ceilings to accommodate the LED lights. Six new classrooms also have new soundproof ceiling tiles.

Besides new lighting, the elementary school on Federal Street has a new brick facade at its main entrance. New windows along with improvements to the heating and electrical system are ongoing as well.

Energy saving upgrades at the bus garage include new weather stripping around the bay doors and newly installed heat pumps.

“The contractors know all the work that’s being done within the classrooms needs to be finished before school resumes in September. Any work that’s not completed has to be done either after school or on the weekend,” added Merry.