DEVELOPING AN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY POLICY FOR HARNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS
Overview
Why Create An Energy Policy? Background of Harnett County Schools
Energy Usage Utility Bills Overhills High & Triton High Energy Trends
Steps Involved In Creating An Energy Policy
Case Studies Cumberland County Schools Nash-Rocky Mount School System
Broad Goals
Purpose of an Energy Policy
To set in place a series of standardized practices in our schools that, when followed, will decrease energy usage and costs, and minimize our impact on the environment.
Why Create an Energy Policy? Demonstrate Leadership
Show responsible stewardship of public resources
Reduce Energy Costs Simple behavioral changes can reduce
energy consumption by up to 25% Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Other Environmental Impacts
Background: Harnett County Schools 27 schools Over 18,000 students Total utility costs for 2009… over
$3.56 million $187 per student
Overhills High School Energy Usage
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
Jun-
08
Jul-0
8
Aug
-08
Sep
-08
Oct
-08
Nov
-08
Dec
-08
Jan-
09
Feb
-09
Mar
-09
Apr
-09
May
-09
Jun-
09
Jul-0
9
Aug
-09
Sep
-09
Oct
-09
Nov
-09
Dec
-09
Jan-
10
Feb
-10
Mar
-10
Apr
-10
May
-10
Billing End Date
kWh
3,064,000 kWh in 2009
Overhills High School Energy Usage
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
Jun-
08
Jul-0
8
Aug-0
8
Sep-0
8
Oct-08
Nov-08
Dec-08
Jan-
09
Feb-0
9
Mar
-09
Apr-0
9
May
-09
Jun-
09
Jul-0
9
Aug-0
9
Sep-0
9
Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-
10
Feb-1
0
Mar
-10
Apr-1
0
May
-10
Billing End Date
Co
st (
$)$271,427 in 2009
Triton High School Energy Usage
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50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
Jun-
08
Jul-0
8
Aug
-08
Sep
-08
Oct
-08
Nov
-08
Dec
-08
Jan-
09
Feb
-09
Mar
-09
Apr
-09
May
-09
Jun-
09
Jul-0
9
Aug
-09
Sep
-09
Oct
-09
Nov
-09
Dec
-09
Jan-
10
Feb
-10
Mar
-10
Apr
-10
May
-10
Billing End Date
kWh
2,304,185 kWh in 2009
Triton High School Energy Usage
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Jun-
08
Jul-0
8
Aug-0
8
Sep-0
8
Oct-08
Nov-08
Dec-08
Jan-
09
Feb-0
9
Mar
-09
Apr-0
9
May
-09
Jun-
09
Jul-0
9
Aug-0
9
Sep-0
9
Oct-09
Nov-09
Dec-09
Jan-
10
Feb-1
0
Mar
-10
Apr-1
0
May
-10
Billing End Date
Co
st (
$)$201,179 in 2009
Steps Involved in Creating and Implementing an Energy Policy
1. Make a Commitment
Dedication by BOE and Administration BOE has authorized development of this
policy Form a Dedicated Energy Team at Each
School Include Administration, Teachers,
Custodians, Students, Parents
2. Assess Current Performance Data Collection and Management
Document energy usage over time Baselining and Benchmarking
Determine a starting point Compare your facilities to others
Analysis and Evaluation Become familiar with energy trends Evaluate performance of systems
3. Set Goals
Determine Scope Non-negotiable Site Specific Energy Team Options
Estimate Potential for Improvement Establish Goals
Clear and Measurable Set Milestones
4. Create Action Plan
Define Technical Steps and Targets Gaps between current performance and
goals? Determine Roles and Resources
Who will be involved and how? Formulate an Energy Policy that:
States an Objective Establishes Accountability Ensures Continuous Improvement Promotes Goals
5. Implement Action Plan
Communication Raise Awareness Move Toward Participation By All Motivate Track and Monitor
6. Evaluate Progress
Measure Results Does current performance match the goals
you set? Review the Action Plan
Was your Energy Policy effective? What needs to change? What should stay the same?
7. Recognizing Achievements Internal Recognition
Identify schools or individuals that went above and beyond.
Financial Awards External Recognition
Do any schools qualify for Energy Star Certification or other national programs?
Cumberland County Schools
Adopted “Go Green Initiative” in August 2009.
Three CCS schools were officially recognized as “Certified Green Schools” on February 2, 2010 by Sustainable Sandhills.
Some steps taken by the schools to achieve this certification include: Expanding Green Teams Eliminated unnecessary subscriptions to catalogs Developed and implemented an internal energy
audit Installed a rain barrel Planted a garden at the science classroom Enhanced recycling programs
Nash-Rocky Mount School System District serves over 18,000 students with
29 facilities (similar to Harnett). Assessed energy performance in all
facilities starting in 2006. By 2008 had improved energy
performance by 25% and become a Top Performer in the Energy Star Program.
Nash-Rocky Mount School System In just 3 ½ years:
$3,159,819 in cost avoidance savings. $192,768 in hard dollars saved. $178,074 in billing errors found.
Environmental Impact Highest total energy reduction – 28% 21,742,044 kWh reduction Equivalent to avoided emissions of 3,096
cars per year
The Small Stuff Adds Up
One coffee maker (900W) can cost around $54/year to use.
Each miniature refrigerator (145W) can cost around $127/year.
Personal Computers (120W CPU, 150W monitor) can cost $48/year.
The Small Stuff Adds Up
1,241 teachers in the Harnett County School System 2009-2010.
If everyone has a PC…$59,586/year If only half have mini fridges…
$78,803/year If there is one coffee maker for every 10
teachers…$6,704/year $145,093/year total
Turn Out The Lights!
Lighting accounts for around 20% of energy use in schools.
Turning off lights in unoccupied rooms can save 8-10% of lighting energy per year (US DOE).
$3,566,272 x 20% = $713,254 8-10% = $57,060 - $71,325 per year.
How Much Can We Save?
2009 School System Energy Costs - $3,566,272
If we save 5% - $178,313 If we save 10% - $356,627 If we save 20% - $713,254
How Can We Save 10%?
Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Turn off computers when not in use, and make
sure they enter “sleep mode” after 15-20 minutes. Encourage staff to remove mini-fridges. Bring
lunch bags with ice packs, or use break room refrigerators.
Reduce the number of coffee machines. Make sure windows and doors are closed and
sealed properly. Check for unnecessary plug loads and phantom
plug loads. Make sure nothing is blocking air vents. Vending machines.
Very Easily… And At No Cost!
Next Steps…
We are currently working on Steps 1 and 2 Make a commitment by forming dedicated energy
teams at each school Data Collection, Baselining, Benchmarking, Energy
Trend Analysis Start setting reasonable goals and milestones
What areas will we focus on? When do we want to see results?
Questions… Ideas… Second Meeting…
Resources
Go Green Initiative - http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/
Cumberland County Schools Go Green Checklist - http://www.sustainablesandhills.org/docs/CCSGoGreenInitiativeChecklist2010-03-09.pdf
Energy Star Program for K-12 Schools - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12
EPA Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools - http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/k-12_schools.pdf
Energy Star Guidelines for Energy Management - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.guidelines_index