Code E-10[1]

 

Energy Management

 

Purpose    

The purpose of this policy is to establish goals and procedures to guide the energy management of the school district’s building (s).  It is expected by the board that all students and staff will assist in implementing this policy.

 

Basic Guiding Principles

The district will provide a healthy, quality learning and working environment in school district buildings while assuring that the minimum amount of energy is used to accomplish this goal. 

 

Energy Reduction Goals and Monitoring

The superintendent or his or her designee shall monitor energy use to determine energy trends.  The board’s goal for the first year of this policy is a reduction of 10% of last year’s electricity usage and 10% for seasonally adjusted fuel use.  The board shall consult with the administration prior to annually establishing new goals.

 

Conservation

School building principals shall ensure that energy using items not currently serving a constructive purpose will be shut off or removed from school buildings.   The board suggests the following procedures in keeping with this principle:

  1. Extra lighting, coffee makers, small refrigerators and other electrical devices will be approved by the principal or his or her designee, based on their educational need, before they are  used in classrooms or common areas of the building. 
  2. Lights should be shut off when leaving any space.  A student lighting monitor may be assigned the task of assisting with the implementation of this policy.
  3. Computers should have their sleep software activated and monitors should be shut off at the unit when not being used during the day.
  4. Computers and copiers should be shut down at night at the power strips with the exception of servers located _____.
  5. Ventilation systems should be on only when students are present (unless needed for moisture control or free cooling).  Over-ride switches (located ________) may be used if a space is used after or before normal school hours for community activities or other purposes.
  6. Custodians are to use lights only when needed in areas where they are working.  All lights shall be turned off after hours unless needed by custodians or others working in school buildings.
  7. In order to save energy and prevent problems caused by power spikes, all other equipment including but not limited to televisions, printers and speakers should be plugged into power strips that are shut off when not needed. 
  8. Staff members should submit work orders for leaky faucets, room thermostats that don’t work correctly, or light controls that aren’t working right.  Work order forms can be obtained at _________________.

 

Energy Efficiency

In order to ensure that items that perform necessary functions do so in an efficient manner, each building principal will establish procedures to periodically re-evaluate their energy using equipment’s efficiency given cost-benefit considerations. 

 

In consultation with appropriate staff, the board shall prepare a long-term capital plan to address the need to upgrade building systems with more efficient and cost-effective equipment.

 

A Facility Operating Plan shall be put in place and kept updated using the template available from the Vermont Superintendents Associations School Energy Management Program.

 

Efficient Procedures that might be used include:

  1. Purchasing “Energy Star” rated electrical equipment.
  2. Changing ventilation filters a minimum of four times a year.
  3. Keeping ventilation grilles on the unit ventilators and radiation clear of  objects that can obstruct air flow. 

 

Energy Committee

A committee shall be formed by the board to continually evaluate the school district’s energy needs.  This committee shall include community members, students, faculty and administration.  The committee will work with staff to complete a Facility Operating Plan for the energy using systems and keep it updated.  (Note: in some cases an existing facility committee would take on this task.)

 

Energy Training

The superintendent or his or her designee shall ensure that, as part of the annual teacher orientation, key points in this policy are explained to teachers, and that building maintenance staff are trained on the following issues:

  1. Proper use of thermostats and overrides.
  2. How to maximize the benefit of natural lighting and window shades.
  3. When and how to contact maintenance if there is a problem with the energy using systems.
  4. Emergency procedures to address potential problems with the building’s mechanical and electrical systems.

 

 

 


[1]  The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for school boards that want to create an energy policy.  The specifics of the policy can be modified to meet the needs of particular schools or school districts.

 

The Vermont Superintendents Association’s School Energy Management Program (SEMP) is available to do no-cost energy assessments of school buildings and provide ongoing advice on the energy savings efforts.  They can be contacted at 802-229-1017 or by email at semp@vtvsa.org.  They can also be contacted to help ensure that full advantage is taken of available Efficiency Vermont incentives.