7/3/17 - The Daily Transcript - Grossmont Union installs cooling towers at Valhalla High
A 90-ton hydraulic crane hoists a cooling tower into place Friday at Valhalla High School.

As part of an ongoing effort to make energy-efficiency upgrades throughout the Grossmont Union High School District this summer, a 90-ton hydraulic crane hoisted two cooling towers into place Friday at Valhalla High School.

The 11,000-pound cooling towers were lifted in sections by the hoist, which was operated by Lakeside-based Bob's Crane Service.

The cooling towers will operate alongside heating units in the school's central plant, which heats and cool the recently modernized main building at Valhalla High School. The high school's original cooling tower, which was installed in the 1970s, were demolished last month.

"This new equipment will be much more efficient," said Lori Clark, manager of school facilities for VHS. "It's tied into our new solar system as well, so the energy from that will run the new cooling tower and heating plant."

The project was funded by Measure BB, a $128 million general obligation bond for GUHSD high school repairs approved by East County voters last year, and Proposition U, a $417 million school-modernization bond passed in 2008.

During the summer, GUHSD is undertaking numerous energy-efficiency projects and upgrades, including large photovoltaic installations, lighting retrofits and battery storage systems.