Still wondering which type of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system to install at its middle and high school, Lehighton Area School District received guaranteed cost estimates from Trane Comprehensive Solutions on Monday night.

John Linn, a Trane spokesman, told the Lehighton school board and administration that the district would save $3 million over 20 years just in energy bills by using a four-pipe chiller boiler system instead of a water-source heat pump system."These are guaranteed numbers, meaning if we don't meet the energy savings we are promising, which is over $1 million over a 20-year period, we write the district a check for the difference," Linn said.Despite the guarantees, the district is seeking proposals from other energy savings, or ESCO, vendors and is bidding the HVAC project as a non-ESCO project.In both cases, Lehighton is using the water-source heat pump design.With a four-pipe chiller boiler system, unit ventilators would be located in each classroom, whereas with a water-source heat pump system, everything would be located in ceilings or closets."We've been to schools where there are unit ventilators and noise has been a factor," Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said.Linn said the unit ventilators installed by Trane have variable speed fans and noise would not be an issue. He said the chiller units themselves have the newest technology and are noticeably quiet.Linn said going with a four-pipe chiller boiler would save the district money in other parts of the project."You wouldn't need the structural steel that you would with a water-source heat pump system," he said. "On the electrical side, there wouldn't be the ductwork in the ceiling and an electrical contractor would have a wide-open space to start running wires."Several members of the school board questioned why the project is being bid with a water-source heat pump design and why other ESCO vendors are being asked to submit proposals."What makes you think another ESCO vendor is going to give you a different result?" asked William Hill. "These are guaranteed numbers. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see a water-source heat pump system is not for us. This is nonsense. If you give this to an HVAC contractor, you're going to have change orders and never get guaranteed savings."Hill tried to make a motion during the meeting but solicitor William Schwab informed him the public meeting notice indicated the workshop was for discussion only.Given the cost disparity between the two systems, Hill asked how the district got to this point.According to Linn, Trane did a preliminary analysis and recommended a four-pipe chiller boiler system after they were brought on board in April 2014. By December 2014, however, the district's architectural firm, EI Associates, told Trane to proceed with a water-source heat pump design."The electric rate they used in an analysis they did was suspect," Linn said Monday."I think this is going to hold up the entire project," board member Rocky Ahner said.Bids for the HVAC system are due back Sept. 10.Lehighton received bids on July 29 for the general construction, electrical and plumbing contracts related to renovations at both schools.Lobar Inc. of Dillsburg was the lowest general construction bidder at $15.4 million for both projects and all alternates.Albarell Electric of Bethlehem was the lowest electrical contract bidder at $2.8 million.After low plumbing contract bidder Yanuzzi Inc. of Hazleton withdrew its bid due to a clerical error, Jay R. Reynolds of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, became the cheapest option at just over $1 million.The bids are valid for 60 days from the time of receipt.