Flagler Schools Modernize Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

Projects expected to save over 213,000 kilowatt-hours annually and earn $293,000 in energy rebates.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Matern Professional Engineering and Flagler Schools announced the successful modernization of the central energy plant at Flagler Palm Coast High School, with upgrades to Matanzas High School currently underway. The projects represent a strategic, system-wide approach to reducing operational costs across the district.

Why it matters

Public school districts across Florida are facing aging infrastructure, rising energy costs, and limited budgets. This project demonstrates how districts can make transformative improvements to HVAC systems without breaking the budget by leveraging rebate programs and energy optimization strategies.

The details

The central energy plant at Flagler Palm Coast High School is projected to save the district over 213,000 kilowatt-hours annually and has earned a $293,000 energy rebate to offset costs. The upgrades at Matanzas High School, set for completion in Spring 2027, will reuse and elevate existing infrastructure to save over $1 million in construction costs. The projects focused on economical, maintenance-friendly solutions to address budget constraints without sacrificing quality.

  • The central energy plant at Flagler Palm Coast High School came online in December 2025.
  • Construction on the Matanzas High School upgrades is set for completion in Spring 2027.

The players

Matern Professional Engineering

A multi-disciplined building systems and commissioning engineering firm that collaborated with Flagler Schools on the projects.

Flagler Schools

The school district that undertook the central energy plant modernization projects at Flagler Palm Coast High School and Matanzas High School.

Kory Bush

Director of Plant Services at Flagler Schools, who led the initiative.

Ryan Strandquest

LEED AP, President of Matern Professional Engineering, who was part of the project team.

Daniel Mahler

PE, Mechanical Engineer at Matern, who was part of the project team.

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What they’re saying

“Matern has always understood our pain points when it comes to budget. From the onset, Ryan took the time to explain our options, lay out the pros and cons, and roll back the technical language so we could easily understand and make informed decisions together. It was clear he cared about our student body, administration, and our community. As stewards of taxpayer money, we needed a partner who could help us find the most economical path forward, and Matern delivered.”

— Kory Bush, Director of Plant Services at Flagler Schools (buildingenclosureonline.com)

“Public school districts across Florida are facing the same challenge: aging infrastructure, rising energy costs, and limited budgets. What we accomplished with Flagler Schools proves that with the right collaboration and a strategic approach to rebate programs and energy optimization, districts can make transformative improvements without breaking the budget. If district engineers are not informing and taking advantage of programs like the Inflation Reduction Act, they are leaving significant value on the table. We have to find ways to think more like a business to create better learning environments for the current student body, faculty, and future generations.”

— Ryan Strandquest, LEED AP, President of Matern Professional Engineering (buildingenclosureonline.com)

What’s next

An additional rebate is anticipated through the installation of thermal storage technology at the Flagler Palm Coast High School campus, with further savings possible under the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit – 26 U.S. Code §48E.

The takeaway

This project demonstrates how school districts can leverage HVAC infrastructure upgrades to reduce energy costs, capitalize on available rebate programs, and demonstrate responsible use of public funds, serving as a model for other districts facing similar challenges.