District could save $1.5 million annually with energy-efficient upgrades

You know the saying: You've got to spend money to save money.

These days, one could also say you've got to spend money to save energy. Although the timing could be better, Art Hand, the district's assistant superintendent of facilities and planning, is hopeful the school board will consider paying to make some of the improvements identified in a recent report on how to make the district more energy efficient.

Although the district doesn't have the millions neccesary to put all of the energy cost-saving reccomendations into place, there are a handful of changes Hand will propose to the school board in the new year. The report, compiled by an outside firm, recommended $10 million worth of energy-efficient upgrades that could potentially save the district $1.5 million annually, Hand said.

"Obviously we don't have that kind of money right now," he said.

The district is in the process of trimming some $8 million from its operating budget. The cuts are neccesary due to declining enrollment and reduced state funding.

On Monday, Hand met with fellow staffers to brainstorm ideas for energy efficiency that wouldn't be too much of a strain on the budget. Among them:

• Continue with the district's light retrofitting efforts. Last school year, the district switched out non energy-efficient bulbs at the Lodi and Tokay high schools gyms. Although the project cost $55,000 up front, it will save about $16,000 a year, according to Hand who termed it "a quick payback."

Top 10 tips for saving energy

As Lodi Unified reviews a plan to save money by reducing energy consumption throughout the district, you can take some steps toward conservation at your home.

1. Install a programmable thermostat, and set it comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer.

2. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees fahrenheit.

3. Follow the full load guideline when you wash your clothes, and never use the dishwasher or washing machine unless it's for a full load.

4. Plug your electronics into power strips. When turning off these electronics, power down using the power strip to prevent stand-by mode from drawing electricity unnecessarily.

5. Turn off your computer and monitor when they are not being used. Contrary to popular beliefs, turning them on and off will not cause damage. If you are away from your computer at different intervals, make sure you have set the power save options.

6. Air dry dishes rather than using the heated drying cycle on your diswasher.

7. Wash clothes in cold water. This not only reduces hot water usage, but it is better for your clothing as well.

8. Use compact fluorescent bulbs to light your home. Not only do these bulbs use less energy, but they last longer than traditional bulbs.

9. Take short showers instead of baths. The amount of water used and heated is significantly less for a shower.

10. Buy products that have the Energy Star label on them. All Energy Star products meet strict guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Source: www.aboutcom

• Installing a box on district vending machines with a motion sensor that would turn it on or off as needed.

A similar mechanism could be put on computers.

"often computers are running in the background and you don't even know they're on," Hand said of computers' sleep stage. "During that time, they're still drawing power."

Additionally, he wants the district to develop an energy-use policy in which, among other things, administrators would decide at what temperature to set building thermostats during the winter and summer months.

"All of these things we can do without spending a lot," Hand said.

The report by the firm Strategic Energy Consulting recommended the district update heating and air conditioning units, install solar-powered hot water heaters and negotiate lower rates with electric utility providers. Hand is admittedly disappointed all of the upgrades can't be made at this time.

"We'll get there. We have identified some stuff and created a road map for the future," he said.

The draft report is expected to go before the board in January.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

hellsbells wrote on Nov 27, 2008 12:40 PM:

" I have some more ideas for the district. Unplug all the small appliances that the teachers keep in their rooms, like coffeemakers tiny refrigs, mircowaves, watercoolers radios, tvs, etc. "

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joesr wrote on Nov 27, 2008 7:20 AM:

" I have walked by more than one classroom as several occasions and the AC unit was running wildly in the middle of summer break with nobody in sight. Lets start with some policy changes first that will cost nothing, then move to stratagies that have an up front cost. Think of your own home but on a much bigger scale. Budgeting is not rocket science "

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Mad Dog wrote on Nov 27, 2008 3:05 AM:

" Think of all the energy that could be saved if we simply harness all the hot air generated at the LUSD district offices! "

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