Improving energy efficiency is one of the most prevalent thoughts in a building facilitator’s mind. A significant size of your budget will go straight to keeping the facilities running. The EPA estimated that “schools spend approximately $75 per student on gas bills and $130 per student on electricity each year.” Today, we’ll provide some ideas to save on energy bills that won’t leave your students and staff cold and in the dark.
1. Switch to Advanced Lighting
If you haven’t already, consider switching to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) bulbs in your building. According to energy.gov, LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Being just as bright as fluorescent bulbs but longer lasting means saving more on costs dedicated to purchasing replacement bulbs.
These lights may have controllable dimming or tunable luminaries to adjust lighting depending on the day or the activity. This allows teachers to control the light throughout the day, powering down on artificial lighting when not as needed. Energy Star also recommends participating in “Daylighting” or using natural daylight for more savings and better lighting. Improving daylight use, such as installing light pipes or more reflective paint, will make your classrooms brighter and more productive.
2. Retro-Commissioning & Retrofitting
With such a large building to heat, cool, and ventilate, it’s tough to have every section of the facility be energy efficient. Review where you can fine-tune your older systems to run optimally as intended, also known as retro-commissioning. Retro-commissioning your HVAC and air systems potentially brings $10,000 to $16,000 in annual energy savings for the typical school building and cuts down on the maintenance costs to repair old equipment.
Retrofitting, or upgrading your old equipment and grounds specifically to be energy efficient, will let you improve various aspects of your school in unique ways. Can you plant trees that will give the school shade over the summer? Can insulation be added to retain heat better? Can your gas-powered equipment be replaced with electric ones? There are various options to reduce costs, but have a mixture of small and large-scale projects to improve multiple aspects of your school simultaneously and over time.
3. Energy Monitoring
If available, control energy consumption through a programmable schedule, which lets you remotely turn off devices when not in use. For example, installing network software to turn off all the computers in the computer lab when not used during the day, evening, or weekend can save thousands of dollars annually. Properly programming printers, televisions, and lighting systems to power down or enter sleep mode when not in use will save on costs in the long run.
Of course, you and your programming can’t perfectly micromanage everything. Consider recruiting students and staff as “energy monitors” who turn off lights in vacant rooms, ensure unused devices are powered down, etc. People in this role will be more energy conscious, working together with you to save on energy costs.
4. Solving Multiple Issues with Improved Facilities
Additionally, there are various ways to save energy costs and improve other aspects of the school. For example, investing in new glass, windows, and blinds can not only lead to energy savings, but also be used as extra security measures, whether to prevent shattering or obfuscate vision. New HVAC systems can make heating and cooling more efficient while helping to provide good air quality and prevent illnesses. Putting more effort into energy saving can lead to a school-wide movement to be more environmentally and energy conscious, such as students leading initiatives for recycling or improving personal habits. Combining your energy-saving strategies with additional benefits will support your projects from students, staff, and the community.
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There are several ways to start saving on energy bills. With CESA Purchasing, we have a variety of vendor partners to assist with whatever you’re looking to improve at your school. Check out a few of our vendors below!
Facility Solutions Group
Facility Solutions Group is a leading single-source provider of lighting, electrical, energy, signage, and technology solutions, operating across all fifty States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more than thirty-five years, our teams of experienced professionals have been designing, fabricating, installing, maintaining, and servicing turnkey solutions for customers in a wide variety of industries.
Nexus Solutions
CESA Purchasing and Nexus Solutions have partnered to provide Wisconsin Public School Districts with comprehensive, cost-effective facilities assessment and planning solutions, which can solve the challenges of your District’s immediate needs, as well as the next decade and beyond.
Tremco & WTI
Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance and our affiliated construction services company WTI provide industry-leading roofing and building envelope solutions. With a focus on improving long-term performance and ROI, our capabilities include quality products with an emphasis on sustainability.