Project Highlights

• When the New Richland, Minn. School District decided to house its bus fleet, finding an energy-efficient way to heat the facility was a high priority.
• The school district concluded that an Uponor radiant floor heating system would keep the buses warm using less energy than other heating alternatives, and would lower maintenance costs.
• After installing the radiant floor heating system, the district is saving thousands of dollars every year — maintenance and repair bills are lower because batteries and starters are lasting longer and the gas bill has drastically decreased because the buses no longer need to run to warm up prior to departure.

Background

When the New Richland, Minn. School District decided to house its bus fleet, finding an energy-efficient way to heat the new 6,048-square-foot facility was a high priority.

Previously, the bus fleet was housed outside and heated with engine block heaters for up to 22 hours a day. A small building, which was heated by forced air, served as the maintenance garage.

Because the buses had to be warmed at least a half hour before departure, they were burning, and wasting, approximately 500 hours worth of gasoline every year. Plus, general maintenance repairs for items like batteries and starters were costing the district an additional $1,500 to $2,000 every year.

After weeks of research, the school district decided to install Uponor radiant floor heating in the new bus garage. They concluded that an Uponor radiant floor heating system would keep the buses warm using less energy than other heating alternatives, and would lower maintenance costs.

After installing the radiant floor heating system, the district is saving thousands of dollars every year. Maintenance and repair bills are lower because batteries and starters are lasting longer and the gas bill has drastically decreased because the buses no longer need to run to warm up prior to departure — the radiant floor heating keeps them at a constant, even temperature.

Additionally, the comfort level inside the garage is not compromised when the large overhead doors are opened and closed. Since the radiant floor concrete slab acts as a large thermal mass, the temperature of the building is able to stay relatively constant even on the coldest days.

And now that the buses are kept continuously warm during those frigid Minnesota winters, the bus drivers and children can all experience the benefits of radiant floor heating because the windows are free from ice and frost.

 Related Documents

• Uponor Commercial Systems Brochure
• Radiant Floor Heating Brochure