Another group of employees seeking to make a difference with our available resources is our Facilities Department.
In April 2009, we raised the summer set point from 74 to 75 degrees. Statistics show that for each degree the set point is raised or lowered the potential savings is 2-3% of the schools energy usage.
Our proactive power management program involving Dominion Power's Schedule 132 also has been very successful. This is how the time-of-use schedule (132) is intended to be used. It reduces Dominion Power’s peak load on peak days, and it reduces our consumption significantly. On the cooling days that Dominion Power determined were peak demand days they would notify us, usually less than 12 hours in advance. We would then send a mass e-mail to all high schools and those middle schools that were on the schedule 132, informing them that we would be raising their set point from 75 degrees to 78 degrees. That change would last from 11 a.m. until 9 pm.
These are the reductions in usage we experienced from the schedule 132 conservation measures.
- June 2008 - August 2008 total kwh usage at (20) schools currently qualifying for 132 was: 11,968,000 kwh ($1,303,753 )
- June- 2009-August 2009 total kwh usage at (20) schools currently qualifying for 132 was 9,34400 kwh ($961,688)
According to our Energy Management Dept., that translated into an overall reduction in usage of 1,106,312 kwh for those 20 schools. That’s equivalent to $342,065.
In addition, Mike Evans began a team cleaning concept that completes cleaning by zones. The lights, and if necessary, heat or air are provided only for the zone being cleaned. Once that zone is cleaned the lights and air are turned off and the process is repeated as the team moves to the next zone. We do not have the impact on energy usage for this practice at this time, but anticipate that it will be significant.
As we look at next year’s budget, Facilities has shared that we also can find substantial savings by eliminating all personal electrical devices that may be in classrooms and offices. By eliminating lights, refrigerators and microwaves, we believe we can save between $400,000 and $500,000 in energy savings.
Thank you to our Facilities staff for working to help conserve energy and thus save money!
January 29, 2010
Keeping In Touch with You
Hello blog visitor!
Thank you for visiting my new blog, through which I am happy to be able to communicate with Chesterfield County residents about various education-related topics. I hope you enjoy reading my entries. If you have comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to share your opinions. They will be posted in a timely manner.
I look forward to "keeping in touch!"
Note: Chesterfield County Public Schools reserves the right to review comments for appropriate content. Comments deemed inappropriate will not be posted.
Thank you for visiting my new blog, through which I am happy to be able to communicate with Chesterfield County residents about various education-related topics. I hope you enjoy reading my entries. If you have comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to share your opinions. They will be posted in a timely manner.
I look forward to "keeping in touch!"
Note: Chesterfield County Public Schools reserves the right to review comments for appropriate content. Comments deemed inappropriate will not be posted.
Subscribe To
Posts
Posts
2 comments:
Clover Hill High School will now have a brand new facility and I thought that it would be a good idea amidst budget cuts to use the existing school as a technical center . However my suggestion is that the HTA or the High Tech Academy running at the Highland Spring technical center in Henrico county which is run by VCU faculty giving the students 32 dual enrolment credits rotating the students for their electives would be a good use of the facility . Aditionally, some programs would be eliminated due to the budget cuts like Research Tech program at Clover Hill which can be taught at the new tech center . Also, pharmacy tech, opticianry can be added to the list of careers since they are not available at CTC . All these programs should have a fee to offset the cost . We will be charging the students AP fees so if they want 32 dual enrolment credits , they will pay for the HTA program . A lot of students were not accepted at the specialty centers and might benefit from these programs. All interesting programs eliminated from all high schools due to budget cuts must make its way into the tech center for a fee and I think that the parents would be willing to pay for it.
Thank you for your comment. The School Board continues to review and refine plans as to how best to utilize the existing Clover Hill High School once it is vacant.
Post a Comment