Schools: An Overview of Energy Use
and Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Energy Use in Schools
The nation's 17,450 K-12 school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy — more than is spent on computers and
textbooks combined. As much as 30 percent of a district's total energy is used inefficiently or unnecessarily.
By being more energy efficient, schools can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions and improve the students' learning
environment. School districts can and have used the savings from improved energy performance to help pay for building
improvements and other upgrades that enhance the learning environment.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Schools can save energy in a variety of ways.
Low-Cost Measures
> Measure and track energy performance.
> Turn off lights when not in use or when natural daylight can be used.
> Set back the thermostat in the evening and other times when a building is unoccupied.
> Perform monthly maintenance of heating and cooling equipment to guarantee efficient operation
throughout the year.
> Educate students and staff a bout how their behaviors affect energy use. Some schools have
created student energy patrols to monitor and inform others when energy is wasted.
> Use ENERGY STAR Target Finder to integrate efficiency goals into the design of new properties.
Cost-Effective Investments
> Install energy-efficient lighting systems and controls that improve light quality and reduce
heat gain.
> Upgrade and maintain heating and cooling equipment. Replace chlorofluorocarbon chillers, retrofit
or install energy-efficient models to meet a building's reduced cooling loads, and upgrade boilers
and other central plant systems to energy-efficient standards.
> Use a performance contract to guarantee energy savings from upgrades.
> Work with an energy services provider to help manage and improve energy performance.
> Purchase energy-efficient products like ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment.
> Install window films and add insulation or reflective roof coating to reduce energy consumption.
How to Talk to Schools About Energy Efficiency
When talking to schools about energy efficiency, it is important to recognize that they have more pressing needs, like the health of
the students, test scores, and a significant lack of resources. In fact, speaking of "healthy, high performance schools" is a good way
to package energy efficiency messaging. Showing how energy improvements can help free up resources by spending less on utility
bills provides schools with a greater incentive to become more energy efficient.
School Districts Making a
Difference:
Davenport Community School District, IA,
has been an ENERGY STAR partner since
1998. The district's energy program is
guided by ENERGY STAR'S Guidelines for
Energy Management. Davenport has
been able to reduce costs per student to
$88.46 per school year, compared to the
national average of $181.53. They have
saved more than $1 million over 3 years.
Seaford School District, DE, implemented
an energy management plan that has
reduced its energy use by 16 percent
annually, saving nearly 82 million kBtus of
energy. The district has cleaned boilers
in all school buildings, upgraded lighting
systems to high-efficiency T8 and T5
lights, and installed high efficiency
dehumidification equipmentto improve
indoor air quality (IAQ) while reducing
the energy load from central plant
chillers.
San Diego Unified School District
(SDUSD), CA, educates nearly 133,000
students in more than 200 schools, 72
percent of which have earned the
ENERGY STAR. SDUSD is the eighth
largest urban school district in the
country and the second largest district in
California. With a portfolio-wide rating of
84, the district has saved close to $12
million per year and more than $90 million
over the past 12 years.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
-------
Schools: An Overview of Energy Use
and Energy Efficiency Opportunities
How to Talk to Schools about Energy Efficiency (cont.)
For schools doing structural enhancements to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), a key concern linked to student
performance, you should stress that making the structure more energy efficient simultaneously will help pay for
those investments through cost savings over time.
Studies have found that a better physical environment that includes superior energy performance contributes to
increased learning and productivity. This, in turn, affects performance and achievement. By establishing the
facilities management practices necessary to improve energy performance and by properly monitoring and
maintaining systems as part of an energy management program, schools are better prepared to improve IAQ.
Working with schools at the district level, rather than the individual school level, is often a more effective path
to follow. Also, you should mention how improving the energy efficiency of the school can serve as a key
learning tool for students in terms of science, math, the environment, and social and fiscal responsibility.
ENERGY STAR Resources
Guidelines for Energy Management: Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, these guidelines can assist school
districts in improving their energy and financial performance while becoming environmental leaders themselves.
Portfolio Manager — Measure and Track Energy Performance: By measuring energy use, setting goals, and tracking energy
changes, schools can gain control of energy expenses. Schools can rate their energy performance on a scale of 1 to 100 relative to
similar buildings nationwide. To date, EPA's energy performance rating system has been used to measure and track the energy use of
more than 11,000 schools.
www.energystar.gov/benchmark
ENERGY STAR Offers:
- Guides and manuals
- Facility benchmarking
-Training
- Institutional purchasing
- Technical support
- Financing resources
- Emissions reporting
- Third-party recognition
- Motivational campaigns
Perform Cost-Effective Building Upgrades: Plan systematic building upgrades using the 5-stage
approach in EPA's Building Upgrade Manual. This online handbook offers guidance for each stage,
from commissioning to plant upgrades.
www.energystar.gov/bldgmanual
Recognition for Achievements
Earn the ENERGY STAR: Schools earning a rating of 75 or higher using Portfolio Manager may
qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.
www.energystar.gov/eslabel
Become a Leader: ENERGY STAR partners who demonstrate continuous improvement district-wide,
not just in individual school buildings, may qualify for recognition as ENERGY STAR Leaders. EPA
will recognize districts that have achieved reductions of 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, or more.
Recognition is also available for an average rating 75 or higher across a district's portfolio.
www.energystar.gov/leader
Visitwww.energystar.gov/schoolsformore information on ENERGY STAR resources and recognition.
Other Resources for Schools:
The Council of Educational Facilities Planners
International (www.cefpi.org): EPA and CEFPI
share the goal of improving energy efficiency
and IAQ in school facilities to ensure the
health, safety, and performance of students
and staff.
The Association of School Business Officials
International (www.asbo-i.org): ASBO
International provides programs and services
to promote the highest standards of school
business management, including energy
efficiency.
The National Energy Education Development
Project (www.need.org): The NEED Project
promotes an energy-conscious society by
creating effective networks that design and
deliver objective, multi-sided energy
education programs.
The Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org):
The Alliance's Green Schools Program
engages students in creating energy-saving
activities in their schools.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
------- |