A Florida study replaced conventional light switches with passive infrared or ultrasonic sensing systems to control classroom lighting in an elementary school to determine the performance of such controls in saving energy. A before-and-after monitoring protocol was used for 33 classrooms and 7 offices in which electrical demand data were…

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…

As many as 25% of American school buildings are inadequate. However, many districts have reduced maintenance to pay utility bills. An active energy-management program can lower utility costs through efficient operation and maintenance practices and retrofits that pay back in less than three years. (MLF)

Discusses reversing the trend of school-building deterioration and inefficient energy usage through the Rebuild America program. Explains what Rebuild America is and why schools should join the program. Also provided are overviews of successful programs involving schools. (GR)

Provides guidelines for making schools more energy efficient that includes the development of an architectural (usage) program; the prudent use of lighting that combines natural and artificial light augmented by interior finishes; and the use of site orientation, landscaping, and building organization. An example of one school's use of this type…

Explores strategies for upgrading facility energy equipment that can cut energy costs and help substantially cover the costs of capital asset improvements. Discusses use of performance contracts to help schools leverage their operating budgets. Highlights how energy savings helped one school district finance $9.4 million in retrofits. (GR)

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)

Training and interpersonal skills can greatly improve school maintenance and food service operations. Innovative examples include an energy management program and a food service "focus on success" action plan. (MLF)

This report is the result of a survey conducted in late 2005 of higher education institution chief financial officers throughout the U.S. Midwest region concerning their plans to manage what was expected to be a substantial increase in the price of energy in advance of the 2005-06 heating season. Although the winter turned out to be one of the…

This publication from the EnergySmart Schools initiative, a program that focuses on improving communities nationwide through energy-saving solutions, examines some myths and misconceptions about energy in schools and provides facts that can help school districts make smarter energy choices. The myths discussed are: (1) energy isn't a major budget…

This paper discusses the importance of energy and its association with the modern economy. Presently, 40% of Europe's electricity needs are based on coal. Preparing a clean energy technology requires improvements in conventional steam cycle technology. Education plays an important role in energy use, and universities need to organize education…

Design information, floor plan, photos, and energy use data are presented of a combined 45,000 square foot junior/senior high school in Mississippi's Aberdeen School District, built in 1956, and retrofitted over time to improve its usability. Exterior and interior photos are presented showing classrooms, the cafeteria, and gymnasium. Data are…

A 2-year Florida study attempted to quantify air conditioning cost savings when buildings have a white reflective roof. A 10,000 square foot elementary school with a gray modified bitumen roof over plywood decking that had a solar reflectance of 23 percent was monitored for an entire year. After one year of building thermal conditions and…

Education institutions rely heavily on good HVAC systems. Maintaining these systems can be expensive and are a significant factor in operating costs. Energy conservation is a real resource that is often overlooked. This article addresses what causes energy waste, how schools can find sources of energy waste, and how schools can improve…

Presents factors to consider when determining roofing life-cycle costs, explaining that costs do not tell the whole story; discussing components that should go into the decision (cost, maintenance, energy use, and environmental costs); and concluding that important elements in reducing life-cycle costs include energy savings through increased…