Smarter Energy Management in Schools Delivers More than Savings

Posted by Pam Hoddinott
On Tue Aug 25

K-12 schools spend more than $8 billion annually on energy, making it the second-highest operating expenditure after personnel costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. For school leaders managing aging facilities and limited budgets, that makes energy more than a utility line item. It is a real opportunity to improve building performance, reduce operating costs, and support healthier learning environments for students and staff.

Making Energy an Asset^®

School budgets are tighter, building facility maintenance is essential, and community expectations regarding education are higher than ever. Smarter energy management needs to be added to the curriculum. Schools can start by Making Energy an Asset^®. Energy is typically viewed as a cost, but it should be considered an asset that can drive value. Making Energy an Asset^® can be achieved by implementing energy efficiency projects within the facilities. Schools then reinvest the energy savings gained from the energy efficiency projects back into the school.

Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Facilities that are energy efficient enjoy many benefits from lower utility bills to decreased maintenance and an improved carbon footprint. Energy efficiency in schools also provides benefits many may not have considered, such as:

Increased safety. Many schools are dealing with aging HVAC systems. Having a properly optimized HVAC system is critical for the health and safety of students, teachers, and administrators. Ventilation systems should be operating correctly, and additional steps can be taken to improve the ventilation and air filtration in the school buildings. UV lights within the HVAC system can also provide additional protection to building occupants. Verify that the UV lights are operating as designed.
Improved learning environment. It is no surprise that proper lighting within a school building provides a positive impact on student productivity. Properly installed LED lighting can provide a better learning environment for students leading to higher test scores and increased productivity. Interior and exterior LED lighting installed at schools can also improve safety and security and provide significant energy savings. The improved lighting provides better visibility for surveillance cameras. A well-lit parking lot provides safety as students exit busses and cars in busy school parking lots. LED emergency lighting within the school building can illuminate the best route to safety.
Reduced absenteeism. The average daily attendance of students often determines school operating budgets. Because of this, indoor air quality and proper ventilation are especially important in school buildings. Poor air quality can lead to illness and absenteeism. According to a study performed by Washington State, improved indoor air quality can reduce student absenteeism rates by up to 15 percent. Improvement in attendance, even on the smallest scale, can help save schools money.
Creative financing options. Many creative financing options exist for schools that don’t have the budget for energy efficiency projects. Access to capital for energy projects isn’t always necessary. Energy-as-a Service (EaaS) is an ideal way to implement energy optimization and sustainability solutions within the school facilities without any up-front costs. The EaaS concept is simple. An energy management company would design, install, and maintain the energy efficiency update and monitor its performance, while the school uses the measurable energy savings generated by the energy upgrade to stay cash-flow positive.

Partner with a Professional

Schools have an excellent opportunity to lower energy usage, improve sustainability goals, and create healthier spaces for students and staff. It helps to work with an energy management partner who is experienced in the education sector. Chateau Energy will perform an energy audit of the school facilities and set clear energy efficiency strategies specific to your needs. Based on our learnings, no- and low-cost energy conservation measures will be identified. These energy-saving projects could be new LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, sustainability strategies, and more. These measures will be prioritized and then implemented to optimize energy use and maximize energy assets for the organization.

These energy management strategies can often be implemented with limited disruption by scheduling work after hours, during breaks, or in phases that keep occupied areas functioning safely.

Lowering energy usage within schools will not negatively affect learning, just the opposite. Becoming more energy efficient can help create a healthier and better performing environment for students and faculty.

Review our case studies to see how Chateau Energy Solutions helps the education industry with smart, effective energy management programs and tailored sustainability practices.