Why the Need for an Energy Management Service?

In April 2011 the District decided to implement an energy management program in an effort to reduce consumption, decrease their carbon footprint and spend fewer dollars on utility bills.  My name is Chris Santospirito and I have been hired through TST BOCES to work with Lansing CSD to establish and execute this new program.  You will see me around campus as I gather information and communicate with faculty and staff on various energy related issues.  The following is a brief introduction and summary of a few of the reasons why we feel committed to this effort.

EPA/Energy Star:

—  Commercial buildings (including schools) and industrial facilities generate about 50% of US carbon dioxide emissions.

—  $1 out of every $4 spent on energy in US schools is wasted. Conservative 25% = $1.2 Billion annually.

—  A typical school district’s annual energy allocation can range between 1.5% and 3.5% of the total budget.  Often times, energy is second only to staff salaries – more than computers and textbooks combined.

Our Goal:

—  To help our districts save money by minimizing their utility consumption, while avoiding any negative impact on their academic or professional environments.

—  Provide our districts with a dedicated resource to focus on the issue of managing their energy consumption.

Our Energy Management Policy - Three Pillars:

—  Measure, Then Manage

—  We cannot manage what we do not measure.

—  Help students, staff and community to understand what it costs to run our buildings.

—  How can we do that?  Energy Watchdog Tracking Software is the measurement tool.  The District website, newsletters, posters and word of mouth will help spread the word.

—  Turn it Down – Turn it Off

—  Use only what we need to meet the demands of our environment t.

—  Adjust lighting, heating, cooling, etc to avoid excess usage.

—  How can we do that?  Motion sensors, workstation power management policies, Building Information Systems (BIS), etc.

—  Awareness Campaign:  Get the word out and start to modify behavior.

—  Reuse and Recycle Good Ideas

—  Avoid Not Invented Here (NIH).  Often we are too busy doing our jobs to listen to new ideas.

—  Use the best ideas from our sister districts. Ask the question, how much will it cost us to not implement this idea?

—  How can we do that?  Provide recommendations based on realistic savings predictions and current best practices.

I look forward to working with everyone in the District as we move toward greater energy savings across campus.