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The energy-efficiency policy within a school district or a single school depends upon awareness of energy opportunities, budgets and financial structures, district expectations and policies, access to staff training, expertise and knowledge, access to consumption information, consumer behavior and awareness, and the equipment. Simple, but effective low-cost, observations can provide quick, substantial savings in energy costs. A walk-through of the building by maintenance can determine the building's use and schedule of use, determine procedures for shutdown during unoccupied periods, determine lighting levels and appropriate locations of sensors, and identification of cracks that allow outside air inside. A walk-through that assesses energy consumption and user behaviors provides a quick overview of the school's energy use and needs. Operations staff can conduct these in less than a day and the results from identifying energy issues in key areas of the school can lead to numerous possible actions. The following chart provides a snapshot of positive actions and outcomes: The Topic Hub™ is a product of the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) The Energy Efficient Schools and Students Topic Hub™ was developed by:
Hub Last Updated: 7/6/2011
Area Energy Issue Possible Actions Portable Classrooms Poor circulation, noisy air conditioners, water entry and mold Outdoor air needs to be supplied continuously using an outdoor air kit Kitchen Heat build up from cooking Use fan hood only when cooking, reduce pre-heat time, clean coils on refrigerators, and time use of mixers and small electric appliances for when ovens/stoves are not in full use. Newer energy efficient air conditioners can help cool kitchen area and ceiling fans or vents should be used to draw heat out. Kitchen Electicity Use ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, ice machines, and vending machines, as well as commercial food service equipment such as hot food holding cabinets, fryers and steam cookers. Gymnasium/Auditorium Lighting Pulse-start lamps take less warm-up time, energy-efficient skylights for daylight, timers, more efficient bulbs such as T-5 HO Systems in combination with reflectors. Parking Lot Lights Communicate with staff and anyone reserving the school for evening community events that parking lot lights (on poles) will automatically be off after a designated time. Use motion sensors to provide lighting on an as-needed basis. Restrooms Lights on when room is not in use Installation of light controls and occupancy sensors in restrooms, but remember to consider the height of the students using the space. Passive infrared sensors detect body heat, while ultrasonic sensors react to sounds. Automatic controls in other spaces also eliminate unnecessary energy consumption.
Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable
Contact email: glrppr@istc.illinois.edu
P2RIC is a member of the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange, a national network of regional information centers: NEWMOA (northeast), ESRC (southeast), GLRPPR (Great Lakes), ZeroWasteNet (southwest), P2RIC (plains), Peaks to Prairies (mountain), WSPPN (Pacific southwest), PPRC (northwest).
The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) operates the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center.
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