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Cool Schools Projects Energy Saving Updates

Analy High School | El Molino High School | Laguna High School

Analy High School

Savings Through Energy Management Team (STEM) Highlights
March 2004
STEM TEAM LEADERS
Teachers: David Casey, Susan Swanson
Students: John Carpenter, Megan Paladini
STEM TEAM MEMBERS
Teachers: Matt Kristensen, Anita Sandwina
Maintenance Supervisor, Tim Sewell
Students: Brendan Wanger, Blake Veit, Megan Bullis, Amanda Turner, Tracy Webster, Chris Strieter, Robert Casey, Nikko Miller, Ellika Strunk

Findings

Good Things Already Done

  • Lighting
  • Most classrooms have multiple light switches
  • Classrooms have been modified with low-energy T8 fluorescent light bulbs (32-Watt)
  • Heating and cooling
  • Most classrooms have shades or blinds
  • Boiler and pipes are well-insulated

Potential areas for improvement

Lighting

  • Lights are on more hours than necessary
  • Lights are on in unoccupied areas much of the time
  • Large areas are lit when light is needed only for smaller work areas; some bulbs near windows are unnecessary

Heating and cooling

  • Blinds and shades are not closed at night to insulate rooms
  • Main building south facing rooms have ineffective heat deflectors
  • Unoccupied space is heated/cooled unnecessarily
  • Windows are not double paned
  • Thermostats are vulnerable to occupant adjustment in newer buildings
  • There are a number of small (under-sink) water heaters; a single water heater would be more efficient
  • Windows and doors are open when rooms are being heated

Recommendations for Energy Saving

The following no/low cost changes were recommended by teachers as a result of a survey conducted by the Green Team.

  • Conduct workshops for the teachers to assist them in developing and using curriculum to inform students of energy issues.
  • Install more energy efficient lighting, motion sensors, and hot water heaters.
  • Install heat deflectors on windows in the front of the main building.
  • Continue researching solar power with the intent of installing panels located on campus.
  • Reduce consumption of fossil fuels by promoting “walk to school” days throughout the school year.
  • Create an energy patrol to monitor and give feedback about campus energy use.
  • Continue support for program from administration, staff (including custodial staff), and faculty.

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El Molino High School

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Savings Through Energy Management Team (STEM) Highlights
March 2004
STEM TEAM LEADERS
Teachers: Mr. Bruce Norwitt
Students: Emily Sanchez and Katie Siegle
STEM TEAM MEMBERS
Tess Campbell–Sophmore, Emily Clark–Freshman, Kera Conforti–Sophmore,
Erika Hernandez–Junior, Magdalena Mendoza–Junior, Emily Sanchez–Senior,
Ian Seely–Senior, Katie Siegle–Senior, Lucy Vigil–Junior,
Maria Vigil–Junior, Mary Willig–Senior

Findings

Good Things Already Done

Lighting

  • Most classrooms have multiple light switches
  • New energy efficient lights and ballasts have replaced old ones

Heating and cooling

  • Most classrooms have shades
  • Newer classrooms have double paned windows
  • Boiler and pipes are well-insulated

Potential areas for improvement

Lighting

  • Lights are on more hours than necessary
  • Lights are on in unoccupied areas
  • Large areas are lit when light is needed only for smaller work areas

Heating and cooling

  • Blinds and curtains are not used to insulate rooms
  • Unoccupied space is heated/cooled unnecessarily
  • Weather stripping and caulk are missing or in poor condition causing heat to leak from doors and windows
  • Thermostats are vulnerable to occupant adjustment
  • Thermostats have a single setting for heating and cooling
  • More water is heated than is needed
  • Windows and doors are open when rooms are being heated
  • Waste heat is not being used to heat buildings

Recommendations for Energy Saving

The following no/low cost changes were recommended by teachers as a result of a survey conducted by the Green Team.

Lighting

  • Reduce amount of florescent tubes in fixtures of rooms identified as over-lit
  • Encourage staff to use less lighting whenever possible
  • Put motion sensors in bathrooms and faculty lounge

Heating and Cooling

  • Close doors when heat/air conditioning in use
  • Install programmable thermostats to all classrooms; teach teachers how to use them
  • Make thermostats student-proof
  • Don’t heat unused rooms

Other

  • Set computers to “hibernate” rather than “sleep”
  • Encourage students to print only when necessary
  • Fix the EMS system in the library
  • Check vent flaps in “F” buildings
  • Turn off security TV at night; leave security VCR on

Overall

  • Create an energy patrol to monitor and give feedback about campus energy use
  • Continue support for program from administration, staff (including custodial staff), and faculty

The following moderate/high cost ideas were generated for consideration by the Green Team

  • Optimize energy efficiency whenever equipment is replaced and buildings are remodeled, (e.g., rewire old library and put switches in each room; use energy ideas and guidelines from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools www.chps.net )
  • Meter each classroom’s energy use
  • Install solar panels
  • Insulate cafeteria building
  • Move the kiln and transfer heat to classroom with an on/off valve to close the inflow

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Laguna High School

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Savings Through Energy Management Team (STEM) Highlights
March 2004
TEAM LEADERS
Kent Cromwell, Bruce Light, Dennis Machado

Although Laguna did not participate in STEM training, faculty, staff, and students have been incorporating many energy saving strategies in their school. These include:

Renewable Energy lessons in Science class

  • Class discussion on energy conservation (September)
  • Solar energy lesson (October)
  • Hydro and tidal sources of energy (November)
  • Wind energy lesson (December)
  • Hydrogen fuel cell automobiles & poster project on renewable energy (January)
  • Energy Reduction techniques (February)
  • Lesson on energy through movement & kinesiology. (March)

In-school Actions

  • Weekly reminders and tips in staff meetings about conserving energy.
  • Signs posted near light switches in every room reading LOCT: Lights Off Computers Thermostat, to aid in reminding teachers and students to conserve energy.
  • Campaign to use more compact fluorescent light bulbs at school and at home, and why they are important tools in energy conservation.
  • Continued support from Dennis Machado to keep energy usage minimal during school and after school hours.

Projects in the works

  • Formation of a green club to explore energy issues more deeply, engage in after school projects.
  • Guest speakers: Architect of Laguna, Green building expert for section on alternative building techniques.
  • Use energy auditing tools around school to measure energy consumption.
  • Conduct teacher survey to determine areas of energy waste.
  • Energy patrol to monitor energy use, and give feedback and reminders about energy use.

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