Lewisburg Area School District Policies	Printable version
817 817. ENERGY MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION 817. ENERGY MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION The Lewisburg Area School District embraces energy conservation and believes it to be our responsibility to ensure that every reasonable effort is made to conserve energy and natural resources while exercising sound financial management. We recognize the importance of adopting an energy management and conservation policy in order to govern this program. We also affirm the implementation of this policy will be the joint responsibility of the Board, administration, faculty, staff, students, support personnel, and the energy management company. Success is based on cooperation at all levels. Accurate records of energy consumption and cost will be maintained on a per building basis to provide verifiable performance information to the Board and administrations of these buildings in the Lewisburg Area School District, in order to monitor the progress of the energy conservation program and to verify energy conservation goals are being met. The Superintendent will be accountable for energy management in his/her district with energy audits being conducted and feedback provided by the Energy Education Specialist. To ensure the overall success of the energy management program, the following specific areas of emphasis will be adopted: 1. The Energy Education Specialist will be held accountable for the implementation and maintenance of the energy conservation and management program. 2. The Board expects all personnel at each building to make a positive contribution to maximize energy conservation and produce real energy savings. 3. Within ninety (90) days, administrative Energy Guidelines will be adopted that define the rules of engagement in implementing our energy program. Further, to promote a safe, healthy learning environment and to complement the energy management program, administrators for each building shall review and adhere to the preventive maintenance and monitoring plan which has been established for the respective building and its systems to include the HVAC, building envelope, and moisture management. The Board is responsible for oversight of the operations and fiscal accountability of each building under its governance. The Board embraces energy conservation and desires for the Lewisburg Area School District to become a nationwide institutional leader in energy management and conservation as part of our social responsibility to respect our natural resources. The Board directs the Superintendent and his/her designees to develop and implement short- and long-range strategies to maximize energy conservation. Responsibilities 1. Every person is expected to be an energy saver as well as an energy consumer. 2. The staff member is responsible for implementing the guidelines during the time that s/he is present in the classroom or office. 3. The custodian is responsible for control of common areas, i.e. halls, cafeteria, etc. 4. Since the custodian is typically the last person to leave a building in the evening, s/he is responsible for verification of the nighttime shutdown. 5. The building administrator is responsible for the total energy usage of his/her building. 6. The Energy Education Specialist performs routine audits of all facilities and communicates the audit results to the appropriate personnel. 7. The Energy Education Specialist is responsible for either directly or indirectly making adjustments to the district’s Energy Management System (EMS), including temperature settings and run times for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other controlled equipment. 8. The Energy Education Specialist provides regular reports to building administrators indicating performance with regards to energy savings. 9. The Lewisburg Area School District is committed to and responsible for maintenance of the learning environment. 10. To complement the district's energy management program, the district shall develop and implement a preventive maintenance and monitoring plan for its facilities and systems, including HVAC, building envelope, and moisture management. General 1. Classroom doors shall remain closed when HVAC is operating. Ensure doors between conditioned space and nonconditioned space remain closed at all times (i.e. between hallways and gym or pool area). 2. Proper and thorough utilization of data loggers will be initiated and maintained to monitor relative humidity, temperature, and light levels throughout the district's buildings to ensure compliance with district guidelines. 3. All exhaust fans should be turned off daily. 4. All office machines (copy machines, laminating equipment, etc.) shall be switched off each night and during unoccupied times. Fax machines should remain on. 5. All computers should be turned off each night. This includes the monitor, local printer, and speakers. Network equipment is excluded. 6. All capable PC’s should be programmed for the “energy saver” mode using the power management feature. If network constraints restrict this for the PC, ensure the monitor “sleeps” after ten (10) minutes of inactivity. 1 Set points are in accordance with ASHRAE 55 “Thermal Conditions for Human Occupancy” Air Conditioning Equipment 1. Occupied temperature settings shall NOT be set below 74°F. 2. During unoccupied times, the air conditioning equipment shall be off. The unoccupied period begins when the students leave the area at the end of day. It is anticipated that the temperature of the classroom will be maintained long enough to afford comfort for the period the staff remains in the classroom after the students have left. 3. Air conditioning start times may be adjusted (depending on weather) to ensure classroom comfort when instruction begins. 4. Ensure outside air dampers are closed during unoccupied times. 5. Ceiling fans should be operated in all areas that have them. 6. Relative humidity levels shall not exceed sixty percent (60%) for any twenty-four (24) hour period in isolated zones within buildings that are entirely under the environmental control of an operational HVAC system. 7. Air conditioning should not be utilized in buildings during the summer months unless the facilities are being used for summer school or year-round school. Air conditioning may be used by exception only or in those facilities that are involved in team-cleaning. 8. In all areas which have evaporative coolers such as shops, kitchens and gymnasiums, the doors leading to halls which have air conditioned classrooms or dining areas should be kept closed as much as possible. 9. Where cross-ventilation is available during periods of mild weather, shut down HVAC equipment and adjust temperature with windows and doors. Cross-ventilation is defined as having windows and/or doors to the outside on each side of a room. 10. Ensure dry food storage areas are maintained within code requirements. Typically, this is 55F-75F temperature and thirty-five percent (35%)-sixty percent (60%) relative humidity. Utilize loggers to verify. Heating Equipment 1. Occupied temperature settings shall NOT be above 72°F. 2. The unoccupied temperature setting shall be 58°F (i.e. setback). This may be adjusted to a 65°F setting during extreme weather. 3. The unoccupied time shall begin when the students leave an area. 4. During the spring and fall when there is no threat of freezing, all steam and forced-air heating systems should be switched off during unoccupied times. Hot water heating systems should be switched off using the appropriate loop pumps. 5. Ensure all domestic hot water systems are set no higher than 120°F or 140°F for cafeteria service (with dishwasher booster). 6. Ensure all domestic hot water recirculating pumps are switched off during unoccupied times. 7. For heat pumps, ensure a 6 °F dead-band between heating and cooling modes. 8. Heating oil and propane, if applicable, levels should be physically measured and recorded by “sticking the tanks” at least on the following intervals: a) recurring scheduled monthly date; b) immediately before new delivery; and c) immediately after delivery. Lighting 1. All unnecessary lighting in unoccupied areas will be turned off. Staff should make certain that lights are turned off when leaving the classroom or office when empty. Utilize natural lighting where appropriate. 2. All outside lighting shall be off during daylight hours. 3. Gym lights should not be left on unless the gym is being utilized. 4. All lights will be turned off when students and staff leave for the day. Custodians will turn on lights only in the areas in which they are working. 5. Refrain from turning lights on unless definitely needed. Remember that lights not only consume electricity, but also give off heat that places an additional load on the air conditioning equipment and, thereby, increases the use of electricity necessary to cool the room. Water 1. Ensure all plumbing and/or intrusion (i.e. roof) leaks are reported and repaired immediately. 2. Grounds watering should only be done between 4:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Do not water during the heat of the day, typically between 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 3. When spray irrigating, ensure the water does not directly hit the building. 4. Consider installing water submeters on irrigation and cooling tower supply lines to eliminate sewer charges. References: School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 510 School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 510