Bonneville School District Energy Conservation Program

Why do we need Energy Conservation Management?
In a nutshell, utility bills are the second largest expense for our school district.  In the spring of 2009, the services of Energy Education Inc. were contracted to help develop and implement a people-based conservation program with guaranteed minimum energy savings and the promise of more savings. As of March 2023 we have saved over $10,020,000 dollars. That is a 36% reduction in utilities!

Energy Conservation Mission Statement
*All employees can effectively prepare future generations to live and work productively in our world. One way to prepare our students is by “modeling the behavior,” in this case by reducing energy bills.

*By keeping operating costs down, Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 can provide a safe and comfortable environment for learning while reducing wasted energy usage and conserving natural resources.

*BJSD93 is committed to decreasing energy consumption and anticipates a team effort from all employees to be “energy savers.”

*All monies saved in energy conservation are available for use in schools, classrooms and keeping programs running.

Energy Conservation Management Plan

All staff should help conserve energy by following these simple guidelines:
The pennies, nickels and dimes that we each save can amount to huge potential savings when we consider ourselves part of a very large team. The potential district-wide cost avoidance for classroom HVAC and activities amounts to over $500,000 per year. So, how can I impact the district energy consumption in my classroom? Read on...

1. Closing doors while the heating-ventilation is running.
   1. Corridors in most schools are not heated/cooled to the same level that the classrooms are. A typical classroom heat pump is sized for the 900 square feet of classroom space. Leaving the classroom door open requires the heat pump to heat/cool a space many times that of the classroom, wasting energy and making the classroom feel the effects of opening outside doors. 
2. Turn off my lights when I leave the classroom for longer than 20 minutes or gyms for 30 minutes
   1. One 4 bulb fluorescent fixture consumes approximately 180 Watts of power. If my classroom has 20 fixtures I can save the district over $85/year by turning the lights off when the room is not occupied. Looking at this from a district-wide standpoint that is $45,000/year in cost avoidance.
3. Unplug my TV/VCR/DVD, Microwaves and coffee pots when not in use.
   1. Televisions, DVD/video players, microwaves, coffee pots, etc. consume energy even when turned off. A typical setup of a TV, DVD and VCR may consume over 25 Watts of energy, just sitting there plugged in.
4. Shutdown all computers, monitors, speakers and printers at the end of each day using the surge protector.            
   1. Shutting down my computer and peripherals at the end of each day will help save the district over $100,000. 

 Energy Conservation Specialist & Program Implementation:

• Audit all district-owned facilities during all hours day and night to determine where energy - and money - can be saved. 

  • Lighting that is on when it should not be
  • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) running that should not be
  • Water leaks or running when it should not be
  • Vending machines on when they should not be
  • Copiers and office equipment on when they should not be
  • Computer equipment and peripherals on when they should not be
• Help administration and staff develop energy-saving habits
  • Emphasis on changing behavior rather than purchasing new equipment
  • Generate an attitude and culture of energy-saving & conservation
  • Provide timely data and counsel regarding energy usage and costs
  • Coordinate energy-saving efforts with all departments and buildings
  • Help schools implement energy-saving programs and practices
• Review and authenticate energy usage and billing
• Optimizing the efficiency of our energy systems.
• The bottom line- get the most for our money!