Managing Energy Costs in Schools
 
Managing Energy Costs in Schools

Kindergarten through high school buildings in the U.S. spend an average of 67 cents per square foot (ft2) on electricity and 19 cents/ft2 on natural gas annually. In a typical school building, lighting, space heating, and water heating represent between 74 and 86 percent of total use depending on climate, making those systems the best targets for energy savings.

Energy accounts for about 2.2 percent of a school's expenditures. Although this represents only a small percentage of total costs, it is one of the few expenses that can be decreased without affecting classroom instruction.

In order to better manage your building's energy costs, it helps to understand how you are charged for those costs. Most utilities charge commercial buildings for their natural gas based on the amount of energy delivered. Electricity, on the other hand, can be charged based on two measures: consumption and demand (Figure 1). The consumption component of the bill is based on the amount of electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) that the building consumes during a month. The demand component is the peak demand (in kilowatts) occurring within the month or, for some utilities, during the previous 12 months. Demand charges can range from a few U.S. dollars per kilowatt-month to upwards of $20 per kilowatt-month. Because it can be a considerable percentage of your bill, you should take care to reduce peak demand whenever possible. As you read the following energy cost-management recommendations, keep in mind how each one will impact both your consumption and demand.

Figure 1: Diagram of a hypothetical daily load shape
Source: Platts
The Bottom Line

Almost all of the conservation measures discussed for the short and longer term represent good investments. Most will not only save money but will enhance both the aesthetics and the learning environment of your school building.

Quick Fixes

Many schools have tight facility budgets, so low- or no-cost energy expenditure reductions are especially important.
Turning Things Off

Turning things off seems simple, but remember that every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) that you save by turning things off equals US$100 off your utility bill (assuming average electricity costs of 10 cents/kWh).

Computers. Computers are used intermittently in schools and should employ sleep-mode settings when the machines are not in use. The typical desktop computer, monitor, and shared printer draw about 200 watts, with the monitor alone drawing about 100 watts. "Smart" power strips with built-in occupancy sensors are available to shut off plugged-in devices like printers and monitors when no users are present.

Lights. Turn off lights when they are not in use. Occupancy sensors can help, but a less-expensive alternative would be to assign students as "energy monitors" to ensure that switches are off when the lights aren't needed and to train custodial staff to also switch off lights. The Albuquerque, New Mexico, public school district is allotting one-third of the savings from energy-efficiency initiatives to the administration for spending on educational needs, in order to reward schools that conserve.
Turning Things Down

Some equipment cannot be turned off entirely, but turning it down to minimum levels where possible can save energy.

HVAC temperature setbacks. Turn down temperature settings after school hours but be wary of nights when after-school activities such as sports or theater occur.

Special-use rooms. Certain parts of a school¡ªlike auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias¡ªare only used during specific times of the day or week. Make sure that HVAC settings are at minimum levels during non-use periods.

Water heaters. Turn water heaters down on weekends if possible.
Cleaning & Maintenance

Use an economizer. Many air-conditioning systems use a dampered vent called an economizer to draw in cool outside air, when it is available, to reduce the need for mechanically cooled air. If not regularly checked, the linkage on the damper can seize up or break. An economizer stuck in the fully opened position can add as much as 50 percent to a building's annual energy bill by allowing in hot air during the air-conditioning season and cold air during the heating season. Have a licensed technician check, clean, and lubricate your economizer about once a year and repair it if necessary. If it's still operating, have the technician clean and lubricate the linkage and calibrate the controls.

Check air-conditioning temperatures. With a thermometer, check the temperature of the return air going to your air conditioner and then check the temperature of the air coming out of the register nearest the air-conditioning unit. If the temperature difference is lower than 14¡ã Fahrenheit (F) or higher than 22¡ãF, have a licensed technician inspect your air-conditioning unit.

Change filters. Filters should be changed on a monthly basis¡ªor more often if you are located next to a highway or construction site where the air is much dirtier.

Check cabinet panels. On a quarterly basis, make sure the panels to your rooftop air-conditioning unit are fully attached with all screws in place, and verify that gaskets are intact so no air leaks out of the cabinet. Chilled air leaking out can cost $100 per rooftop unit per year in wasted energy.

Clean condenser coils. Check condenser coils quarterly for either man-made or natural debris that can collect there. At the beginning and end of each loading season, thoroughly wash the coils.

Check for airflow. Hold your hand up to air registers to ensure that there is adequate airflow. If there is little airflow or if dirt and dust are found at the register, have a technician inspect your unit and duct work.

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Longer-Term Solutions

Longer-term solutions should also be considered. Although the actions covered in this section require more-extensive implementation, they can dramatically increase the efficiency of your facility without compromising the learning environment. Ask your local utility's representative for more information about initiating such projects.
Commissioning

Commissioning is a process in which engineers observe a building to ensure its systems are operating appropriately and efficiently. Studies have shown that continuously monitoring a building's energy systems can lead to reductions of 10 to 15 percent in annual energy bills. For the typical 100,000-ft2 school building, that's equal to about US$14,000 in savings per year! Savings typically come from resetting existing controls to reduce HVAC waste while maintaining or even increasing comfort levels for occupants. Commissioning usually costs between 5 and 40 cents/ft2.
Upgrade to More Efficient Lighting

Take advantage of daylighting where possible to reduce the need for electric light¡ªproper design is critical to avoid glare and overheating. If your facility uses T12 fluorescent lamps, relamping with modern T8 lamps and electronic ballasts can reduce your lighting energy consumption by 35 percent. Adding specular reflectors, new lenses, and occupancy sensors or timers can double the savings. Paybacks of one to three years are common. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can replace incandescents in many applications, reducing energy use by two-thirds and yielding savings of up to $20 per lamp per year.
Efficient Water Use

Sink and shower controllers that automatically shut off after a certain time duration and low-flow faucets and shower heads can help conserve energy used to heat hot water.
Demand-Controlled Ventilation

Many auditoriums, gyms, classrooms, and cafeterias are always ventilated as if they were at full capacity. Instead of leaving them this way, adjust the ventilation levels based on occupancy. Demand-controlled ventilation manipulates an HVAC system to control the amount of outside air being supplied to a space based on occupancy, as measured by the amount of carbon dioxide present in that space. Less energy is consumed because the fans only run when outside air is needed.
Reflective Roofing

If the roof needs recoating or painting, consider white or some other highly reflective color to minimize the heat that the building absorbs. This change can often reduce peak cooling demand and cooling energy use by 15 to 20 percent. For a list of suitable reflective roof-coating products, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web site at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roof_prods.pr_roof_products.
Explore New Ways to Heat and Cool Your School

If you are planning a comprehensive renovation of your heating and cooling system, consider some energy-efficient alternatives:

Geothermal heat pumps. Also known as ground-source heating and cooling, these systems rely on the thermal stability of the ground to heat and cool a building. Because the ground temperature below the frost line remains constant throughout the year, it can be used as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer. The first cost of a geothermal heat pump can be slightly higher than that of other systems, but life-cycle costs are often lower. Energy consumption from geothermal heat pumps can be 25 to 50 percent less than that of traditional heating and cooling systems.

Evaporative cooling uses the natural cooling of evaporation and is especially effective in warm, dry climates. It typically uses less than 25 percent of the energy of a vapor-compression air-conditioning system. First costs may be higher than for a vapor-compression system, but paybacks can be rapid: six months to five years depending on climate.