Reduce Costs by Increasing Energy Efficiency
School Advisor, 2007 Issue No. 3

It’s more than just turning off lights; it’s securing the integrity of your building envelope and ensuring your heating ventilation and air conditioning systems run efficiently.

We don’t have to tell you that energy costs are significant; they’re a substantial component of operating costs. Consequently, the ability to control these costs allows schools to better control operating expenses. While a lot of cost-saving methods are common sense — such as turning off the lights —others aren’t so obvious.

Let’s start with the common sense methods. Most schools have their lights controlled by switches. Instead, consider installing occupancy sensors or timers. This will allow you to turn more lights off more consistently. In addition, consider allowing lights to be on for a shorter duration. Once activities within a particular area are complete, program the timer to turn off the lights.

Occupancy sensors offer an even more efficient alternative, as they automatically turn lights off in a given area once no movement has been detected after a specific period of time. This could be especially useful in spaces that are not used every hour during the day and once students depart for the day.

Although lighting provides some energy-saving opportunities, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) are where the biggest opportunities lie.

First, if HVAC equipment is properly maintained, less energy will be used to provide comfort within the school. Regular filter changing, belt inspection and replacement, bearing lubrication, and condenser coil cleaning are some of the regular maintenance that needs to be performed.

Second, as with lighting, shutting down the HVAC equipment when it’s not used is the easiest way to save energy. Another way to save energy would be to tie the HVAC equipment to the occupancy sensor. If the sensor shows that no one is in the space, then it would signal the HVAC unit to turn off or just shut the outside air damper. Once the sensor detects movement, the lights come back on, and the HVAC unit will run normally.

Installing carbon dioxide detectors to gauge exactly how much ventilation is needed is another way of controlling energy costs. If the CO2 levels are low in large spaces, then the outside air dampers could be positioned lower than the minimum position, thus requiring less energy to condition the outside air for use in the space.

Other tips include:

• Upgrade lighting to more energy-efficient fixtures. Incandescent bulbs are very inefficient; as your T-12 ballast fail, replace them with the more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent fixtures.
• Consider pooling purchasing power with other schools within your county to get better rates for gas and electricity.
• Make sure all computers are shut off at the end of the school day; if you’re already doing this, consider shutting them down immediately after students are out of the building.

Finally, it’s important to ensure that your building envelope is sound. Replace inefficient windows. Keep blinds closed whenever possible; if necessary, consider installing blinds to reflect energy away from the building. Provide more insulation, whether on the roof or at the walls. Consider embarking on a pointed renovation where you go after energy-saving issues or, if your budget allows, a full building renovation where you can install the latest energy- efficient systems.

For more energy-saving tips or information on embarking on a renovation, please contact Plante Moran CRESA. We provide unbiased, fully integrated real estate consulting services for those who want to lease, buy, or build, including:

• Real estate strategic planning
• Transaction management/Tenant representation
• Project feasibility
• Acquisition and financing
• Owner representation, design, and construction
• Asset positioning and investment analysis
• Furniture procurement and move coordination

We function exclusively as a buyer’s agent, which means we’re always acting in your best interest — maximizing the value of your facility investments, optimizing your facility locations, and reducing your construction costs.

If you have questions, please contact Mark Eckles at 248.223.3670 or mark.eckles@plantemoran.com or David Asker at 248.223.3413 or david.asker.@plantemoran.com.