Opting against an energy savings project could save Lehighton Area School District $4 million if bids for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades opened Thursday afternoon hold true.

Four contractors submitted bids to install a water-source heat pump system at Lehighton's middle and high schools with the two lowest estimates only $16,000 apart.Worth and Company of Pipersville bid $7.8 million, while Master Mechanical Corporation of McAdoo came in at $7.816 million.More expensive bids came from JBM Mechanical at $8.8 million and the Warko Group at $9.4 million.Lehighton has been working with Trane Comprehensive Solutions on completing the HVAC work as part of an energy savings contract, or ESCO, but Trane has estimated a water-source heat pump system at both buildings would cost $11.5 million and monthly energy payments would actually increase by $46,000 a year for 20 years."We gave the exact same design to Trane as we did to the HVAC contractors," Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said Thursday following the bid opening. "These bids today were lower but there are some key differences between an ESCO project and one that is not."By entering into an ESCO, however, Lehighton would be guaranteed that all change orders would be the responsibility of Trane. If one of the four bidders on Thursday wins the job, Lehighton would foot the bill for any change orders that add cost to the project.In asking for the HVAC bids, Lehighton board member Larry Stern said he felt the district should "give the project a competitive aspect."Trane said switching to a four-pipe traditional chiller boiler system would drop the district's cost down to $7.9 million.The district also solicited energy savings proposals from vendors other than Trane and received responses from Schneider Electric and McClure Company.HVAC work is part of a larger renovation project at both schools.Bids have already been opened for the general construction, electrical and plumbing contracts.The total cost for renovations at both buildings could cost anywhere from $25 million to $30 million, Andrew Blaydon of the EI Associates architectural firm, said.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.Lehighton has a board workshop session scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. where it is expected it will further discuss the HVAC options."We'd like to award a contract, whether it is from today's bids or an ESCO vendor, at our board meeting later this month," Cleaver said.