Top
Ten Strategies for Vermont Schools to Reduce
Costs
Via Energy Efficiency
By Amy Rubin, Public Relations Project Manager,
Efficiency Vermont
Vermont
schools are reducing costs through energy-saving approaches to daily
operations. Efficiency Vermont has released the following Top Ten
Money-Saving Strategies for Schools, based on successful energy-saving
actions being taken in districts throughout the state.
1. Invest in
energy-efficient lighting. Change T12 fluorescent tubes (especially ones with
magnetic ballasts) to High Performance T8s, metal halide gym lighting to T5s,
incandescent exit signs to LEDs, and incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent
lights (CFLs).
2. Install
occupancy sensors to automatically turn off lights in empty areas or establish
a student light monitor program.
3. See that
the ventilation system’s clock is set to the correct time and day of the week.
4. If the
building has a carbon dioxide sensor, make sure that it is set properly. If the
setting is too low, more cold outside air than necessary will be brought in.
5. Lower the
temperature of the heating system at night.
6. Keep
ventilators clear of anything blocking them and remove items stacked on them.
7. Use
Vending Misers to turn off vending machine lights and refrigeration systems
until someone walks by. These simple, plug-in devices are not appropriate for
machines holding perishable items such as dairy products.
8. Turn off
computers (other than servers) at the end of the day. Although computers do
save energy in sleep mode, they save more while off.
9. Use one
larger refrigerator in the faculty lounge instead of mini fridges in several
classrooms.
10. Put bus
engine block heaters on a timer, so that the heaters are turned on 1 to 1 ½
hours before busses are needed rather than running heaters all night.
For more
information about reducing energy costs in schools, visit
www.efficiencyvermont.com.