Policy 808-R Energy Management Conservation Regulations

To ensure that every employee and student participates in the energy management conservation program as an “energy saver,” a curriculum will be developed, training conducted, and informational materials provided.

Accurate records of energy consumption and costs will be maintained. The principal and the director of buildings and grounds will be accountable for the energy management of each school. The director of buildings and grounds shall require energy audits and outline
conservation program goals. Judicious use of the various energy systems of each school will be the joint responsibility of the principal, director of buildings and grounds and head custodian to ensure that an efficient energy posture is maintained on a daily basis.

It is essential that energy guidelines be observed in the operation of the cooling and heating equipment. To maintain an environment that is conducive to the educational process, the classroom temperature should be between 74 and 78 degrees during the cooling season and between 68 and 72 degrees during the heating season.

1. The principal will be provided with information reflecting the energy consumption in his/her building.

2. The teacher will be responsible for implementing the guidelines during the time that he/she is present in the classroom.

3. The head custodian at each school will be responsible for a the shutdown of the facility when closed each evening.

4. Every employee and student will be expected to contribute to energy efficiency. Every person will be expected to be an “energy saver” as well as an “energy consumer.”

5. All unnecessary lighting in unoccupied areas will be turned off. All lights will be turned off when students and teachers leave school, and custodians will turn on lights only in the areas in which they are working. During summertime, air conditioning will be used only in schools with summer school programs and in occupied areas. Air conditioning may be used in those schools that are involved in a team-cleaning concept.

The following energy conservation procedures are to be observed in buildings with air conditioning equipment.

A. In buildings with windows, ceiling fans, and individual classroom control, staff should:

1. Refrain from turning on the air conditioning equipment until the occupant comfort level, temperature and humidity can no longer be maintained without mechanical cooling.

2. There will be times when the outdoor temperature is such that the energy management system will not allow the cooling or the heating
equipment to operate. It will be the teacher’s responsibility to close all windows and doors when the heating or air conditioning system is
operating.

3. When the temperature is such that cooling is needed at the beginning of the school day, the start time for air conditioning equipment at each campus should be set as late as possible while still allowing time to cool the building to guideline temperature by the beginning of classes.

4. When air conditioning is in operation thermostat controls must be set at 74 to 78 degrees close individual classroom and office doors must be closed.

5. Refrain from turning lights on unless definitely needed. Remember that lights not only consume electricity, but also give off heat which, in turn, places an additional load on the air conditioning equipment and thereby increases the use of electricity necessary to cool the room.

6. The air conditioning equipment should be turned off at the approximate time the students leave school. It is anticipated that the temperature of the classroom will be maintained long enough to afford comfort for the period the teacher remains in the classroom after the students have gone.

7. Under no circumstances will air conditioning be utilized in classrooms during the summer months unless the classrooms are in use. When air conditioning is not in use, doors and windows may be opened to provide necessary ventilation. Air conditioning may be used in those schools that are involved in a team-cleaning concept.

8. The head custodian, in coordination with the energy manager, will be expected to devise a plan for turning the air conditioning units on in
phases to prevent overloading the system which occurs when all units are turned on at the same time.

9. In all areas which do not have air conditioning, 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.

The following energy conservation guidelines are to be observed when operating heating equipment in school buildings:

A. The thermostat controls shall be set no higher than 72 degrees.

B. Individual classroom and office doors will be closed when the heating equipment is in operation.

C. The start time for the heating equipment should be set as late as possible while still allowing time to heat the building to guideline temperature by the beginning of classes. In those buildings with individual classroom controls which the custodian can access, the custodian will be responsible for setting the thermostat controls appropriately at the beginning of the day.

D. The head custodian or his/her designee will be responsible for the setting of the thermostat at 55 degrees at the end of each day.

E. The head custodian and energy manager will be responsible to ensure that the custodial staff performs an end-of-day shutdown checklist on Monday through Thursday and a weekend shutdown checklist on Friday to make certain that the building is closed or shut down in an energy conservative manner.

F. If, on extremely cold nights, a 55 degree setback will not allow building to heat to a comfortable level by the time the students arrive, the building will be kept at a warmer temperature.

A. Lights in classrooms should not be turned on unless definitely needed. Teachers should make certain that lights are turned off when leaving the classroom.

B. Lights in all gymnasiums should not be left on unless the gymnasium is being utilized.

C. All outside lights should be turned off during daylight hours.

D. When in the building during non-school hours, custodians should turn lights on only in the specific area in which they are working.

E. The exhaust fan in the rest rooms shall be turned off at the end of the day

F. Copy machines, laminating equipment, computers (except for any network servers that must be left on) and other office machines should be turned off by the office staff each night.

G. All classroom computers (except for any network servers that must be left on) should be turned off each day at the end of the last class

• Adopted: April 8, 2002
• Amended: June 12, 2007
• Amended: March 13, 2017
• Last Reviewed: March 13, 2017

• Policy 808 - Energy Management and Conservation