Much more than just a switch

A common misconception about energy efficiency is that it is only about "turning off the lights." In response to the question, "What do you do for the school district?" I reply I am the Energy Efficiency Coordinator. This is typically followed by "Oh, you turn off the lights." I even overhear my boys telling their friends that I turn off the lights in the schools. Yes, energy conservation is about turning off lights but it is about so much more.

In the schools we have de-lamped some hallways and common areas from three fluorescent tubes down to one or two depending upon the natural daylight available. We have had the vending companies we contract with de-lamp their beverage and snack machines. We run an auto shut down program for all the computers district wide to turn off any PCs left on at 6:00 PM and again at 10:00 PM. Also, all of the buildings in the district have a computerized Energy Management System (EMS) to control both heating and cooling temperatures and the timing of when to be at either an occupied or unoccupied set point. The head custodians are very good at monitoring their building use and setting their EMS accordingly.

These are just a few examples of the many and varied efforts by our district to be more efficient with our energy use. The students and staff in our schools are working hard toward being better stewards of our energy resources which in turn helps the district save money but equally as important, being more energy conscious makes them good stewards of our planet and all its natural resources.