Energy Efficiency
Energy retrofits may employ one or more energy-efficiency measures (EEMs) to maximize occupant comfort and reduce building energy use. EEMs that are frequently implemented in schools include: improving insulation; upgrading heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and water heating systems; reducing air leakage through air-sealing; installing energy-efficient windows (e.g., insulated glazing units); upgrading to energy-efficient lighting; adding occupancy- or daylight-sensing lighting controls; installing advanced controls and fault diagnostic systems; or changing building operation protocols (e.g., coordinating the use of HVAC systems for maximum comfort only during occupied hours). Below are links to helpful Better Buildings Resources on EEMs.
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for Rural K-12 School Energy Managers and Educators
- Better Buildings K-12 Lighting Tool Kit
- Better Buildings K-12 Solutions for Buildings Energy Excellence
- Better Buildings Decision Guides for Plug and Process Load Controls
- Better Buildings Webinar: Back to School: Including Energy Efficiency in K-12 Classrooms
- Better Buildings Webinar on Fault Detection and Diagnostics in the Age of COVID-19
- Better Buildings Toolkit on Incentivizing Advanced RTU Control Retrofits
- Energy Case Study: Henderson County Public Schools
- Low Carbon Technology Strategies for Primary Schools
- Low Carbon Technology Strategies for Secondary Schools
Featured Better Buildings Solution
- Warner Middle School in Xenia, Ohio, is the only middle school in the nine-building portfolio of the Xenia Community School District. The district identified two main savings opportunities in the Warner facilities: upgrading garage lighting to LEDs and an energy service agreement to include building HVAC controls. The 14-month project resulted in an annual energy savings of 16 percent and annual cost savings of $27,500.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, may be installed in a new construction project or during a retrofit to offset a school’s base energy use and resulting environmental footprint. Financing for renewable energy is available, commonly through a power purchase agreement (PPA), an agreement to purchase power from a solar or wind power provider or a utility at a certain cost over a defined timeframe.
- Better Buildings Resources Center | Financing Renewable Energy Projects
- Better Buildings Resource Center | Power Purchase Agreements
- Better Buildings Webinar: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Small and Rural K-12 Schools
- Better Buildings Fact Sheet: Zero Energy Schools Accelerator
- Power Purchase Agreement Checklist for State and Local Governments
Featured Better Buildings Solution
- The District of Columbia Department of General Services (DGS) implemented their solar energy project using a PPA.