The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | NOVEMBER 2016 39 WITH FAILING OIL-FIRED BOILERS AND AN AGING, inefficient heating system, Elm Street School in Gardner, Mass., turned to modulating boilers from Weil-McLain to spark energy efficiencies and lower heating costs for the school. Built in 1923, Elm Street first served as a high school, but over the course of numerous years, the district converted the facility into an elementary school. Today, the 130,000-square foot facil- ity houses more than 500 students. "Our heating system consisted of two nearly 20-year-old boil- ers that were in constant need of repair," said Robert O'Brien, director of facilities for Gardner Public Schools. "We found ourselves changing out cast iron sections on an annual basis. In addition to the maintenance issues, we wanted to decrease our overall heat load." To assist with project funding and help cover boiler replace- ment costs, the school applied for and received a green repair grant from the Massachusetts School Board Authority (MSBA). The MSBA Green Repair Program offers districts the opportu- nity to repair or replace roofs, windows and/or boilers in public school facilities that are otherwise structurally, functionally and educationally sound. With funding in place, the school selected MacRitchie Engineering, based in Braintree, Mass., which provides HVAC, plumbing and electrical design services, to handle the boiler replacement. "We sought a dual combination gas and oil commercial boiler and Weil-McLain was my primary choice," said O'Brien. "We also wanted units with the ability to modulate with a control package that could be implemented into a building management system. "We received three competitive offerings when the proj- ect was put out for bid and we chose Weil-McLain because the equipment had the best load matching characteristics," said O'Brien. The team chose three Weil-McLain 88 Series low-pressure A School Learns the Benefits of ers that were in constant need of repair," said Robert O'Brien, director of facilities for Gardner Public Schools. "We found ourselves changing out cast iron sections on an annual basis. In addition to the maintenance issues, we wanted to decrease our overall heat load." To assist with project funding and help cover boiler replace- ment costs, the school applied for and received a green repair grant from the Massachusetts School Board Authority (MSBA). Modulating Boilers New boilers being assembled.