With a clear commitment to improving learning environments and using resources wisely, the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township took action. The district partnered with Schmidt Associates to take on aging infrastructure and rising energy costs. Retro-commissioning (RCx) offered a strategic way to reduce energy waste, optimize system performance, and extend equipment life, all without major renovations. By focusing on using what they already had, the district, with guidance from Energy Services Manager Bill Gruen and the Schmidt Associates team, turned opportunity into action and impact.

Smart Targets for Energy Optimization

As a result of collaborating with the school district, the facilities team identified three schools as strong candidates for retro-commissioning: Brookview Elementary School, Liberty Park Elementary School, and Raymond Park Middle School. Each building showed high energy use intensity, or EUI, indicating an opportunity for meaningful savings and operational improvement.

Low-Cost Adjustments, High-Impact Results

Warren Township’s facilities team played a key role in implementing a series of no- and low-cost improvements to restore and optimize existing systems, without any major renovations required.

• Adjusted HVAC schedules to eliminate unnecessary equipment runtime
• Installed variable frequency drives on select air handling units
• Repaired faulty sensors, valves, and actuators to improve system control

Smart Spending, Real Savings

Warren Township’s commitment to stewardship and long-term planning made the project a natural fit. The district wasn’t just focused on energy savings; it also prioritized occupant comfort, operational efficiency, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

AES Indiana helped amplify the district’s investment by offsetting costs through incentives:

• Covered 75 percent of the RCx study cost
• Provided $55,159 in incentives, reducing the district’s implementation cost from $90,500 to a net of $35,341

With clear priorities and a readiness to act, Warren Township turned insight into impact.

Results That Speak for Themselves

Warren Township’s investment in RCx paid off. With implementation complete and savings verified, the district now has clear, measurable results to show for its commitment to smarter energy use.

“Retro-commissioning isn’t just about energy savings—it’s about helping districts get more from the systems they already own. In Warren Township’s case, we were able to uncover simple, targeted changes that made a real impact without requiring major investments.”

BILL GRUEN, ENERGY SERVICES MANAGER

A Smarter Path Forward

This RCx initiative highlights the district’s commitment to making smart, student-focused decisions that benefit both the learning environment and the bottom line. Warren Township didn’t just address rising energy costs—it set a standard for how to lead with stewardship, strategy, and vision.

At Schmidt Associates, we’re honored to support districts like Warren Township that are committed to doing more with what they have, investing in long-term performance, and putting students first. Together, we turned infrastructure challenges into a sustainable win and created a model other districts can follow.

Turn building challenges into budget wins.

Connect with Energy Services Manager Bill Gruen to explore how RCx can deliver real results without a renovation.