Presents the opinions of three energy experts on the issue of school facility energy management. The experts respond to the following questions: will energy deregulation occur in all 50 states and will it provide real savings; and will the majority of districts hire ESCOs to manage their energy needs? (GR)

The Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa is designed to use approximately 50% as much energy as a typical new campus classroom building. An everyday working facility provides a model of energy efficiency in a building that is also going to be used to teach about energy efficiency and environmental…

Describes one Massachusetts school district's solution to rising energy costs by using contract services to head off capital costs and guarantee savings. Highlights keys to successful management of this contracting system and the elements that make up a successful contract services candidate. (GR)

The Energy Star Buildings program assists school districts in reducing energy costs. Traditional and creative funding opportunities are outlined. For the voluntary program, the Environmental Protection Agency provides no-cost technical support, software, workshops, technology updates, and other tools to all participants. (MLF)

Boulder Valley (Colorado) finds savings with an energy-management strategy that makes conservation automatic. Phase-one strategies included a complete lighting system upgrade and a computerized climate-control system. The energy program has helped the district cut monthly kilowatt consumption by 42%, and natural gas consumption has dropped 27%.…

Since 1980 an Ohio school district, by combining new technologies and equipment, new funding mechanisms, and common sense, has been able to reduce energy-related costs in two test schools by $4 million. The Energy Conservation Merit Plan has a cash-back clause that returns a portion of the money saved by energy conservation to the school. Contains…

The School Energy Rebate Team Program at schools in Rockville (Maryland) addresses the human factor in energy management. Half of the costs avoided go back to the schools' activities funds. The program encourages schools to focus on electricity conservation, because electricity accounts for about 70% of the typical school's utility cost. (MLF)

A new elementary school in New Hampshire uses innovative European ventilation technology to ensure excellent air quality. Combined with high-efficiency lighting, the system should reduce energy consumption by 10 to 20%, compared with a traditional facility. (MLF)

Discusses eliminating bond issues for facility energy management upgrades by using performance contracting. Explains that performance contracts create savings that help support financing new equipment over a specific number of years. Financing options, performance contracting tips, and an example of its use in St. Louis (Missouri) are highlighted.…

Built 7 years after the original plan and budget were approved, Brunswick High School (Maine) houses 1,200 students on 50 acres and contains the latest technological features. Among these are energy management systems that students can see firsthand, a traditional library with 21st-century features, and interactive environmental learning from…

Forced by flooding of the Mississippi River to relocate their entire town, residents of tiny Valmeyer, Illinois, built an upgraded, improved school. The new facility serves elementary, middle, and high school students in three separate wings and is equipped to participate in distance learning. (MLF)