School Facilities Need a Summer Vacation, Too!

Ah, summer…that time of year when students rejoice and teachers breathe a sigh of relief. While classrooms are empty, hallways dark, and playgrounds quiet, this is also an ideal time to give your school facilities a much needed break. Although there is still a lot going on during the summer months, there is no doubt these are the best months for operational and energy cost reductions.

It should come as no surprise the biggest energy users on school campuses are HVAC equipment and lighting, which account for approximately 70%. Coming in third place is energy consumed by computers, appliances, office equipment and other plug-in devices.

Therefore, it makes complete sense that with much less staff and students on campus, summer is the optimum time to save energy -- and money!

For example, the New York City Department of Energy introduced the Summer Kitchen Energy Conservation pilot program in 2009 in 57 schools citywide. The program was designed to unplug (if feasible) school cafeteria refrigerators and freezers during summer break. As a result, the City reduced energy use by 100,000 kilowatt-hours and saved thousands of dollars in electrical bills. Since then, the program has been expanded to more than 600 schools.

To help you get an A+ in energy conservation this summer, here is a summer shutdown checklist for your school facilities:

Summer School Shutdown Checklist:

1. Turn off all lights not needed for security and ensure all outside and security lights are correctly timed so that they only illuminate at night. Summer break is a good time to change lamps and clean light fixtures to improve efficiency, or to install efficient LED exit signs.
   
2. Turn off and unplug computers and monitors, and any personal appliances in classrooms: Even if all appliances at your school are turned off, they are still drawing a small amount of energy. This "phantom load" is small (usually around 1-5 watts) for each individual appliance, but can quickly add up.
   
3. Maintenance, Repairs and Installation of Timers and Other Energy Saving Devices: Summer break is the perfect opportunity to do a comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of school facilities. Cleaning fans, lights and refrigerator coils may seem inconsequential, but can have a significant effect on the efficiency and life of the device.
   
4. Turn up the HVAC: After those floors are waxed and deep cleaning is done, shut all the blinds and set the thermostat up to 85.  
5. Which campus uses the least energy? Pick that one for summer school programs and shut down the other ones.
6. Schedule cleaning crews early morning or late evening when the temperature is lowest; not during the hottest hours of the day.
   

Even school facilities and equipment deserve a summer vacation. This may sound like a cliché, but it's true: Take care of your school buildings and they will take care of you!