FACILITIES USE AND MANAGEMENT
This chapter examines the facilities use and management functions within the Kerrville Independent School District (KISD) in three sections:
- A. Facilities Planning and Construction Management
- B. Maintenance and Custodial Operations
- C. Energy Management
C. ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Energy management ensures that district facilities maintain comfortable environments at the lowest cost. Districts use energy management programs and energy audits to evaluate utility operations and control energy costs. There are three major goals of an energy program: to minimize waste, to provide a comfortable environment for students and staff and to encourage energy awareness across the district.
KISD initiated an energy program in 2000-01 with improvement and technology upgrades to the HVAC systems at each school. Efficient energy management automated systems have been installed in the new schools under construction. An energy manager was added in 1988 and after his departure in November 2000 from the district; the HVAC technician took his place.
FINDING
The district Energy Incentive Program implemented in January 2001 focuses on cost avoidance and user education. The program compares baseline information for a school with current energy costs as measured by utility bills for the school. Baseline information is determined by a moving five-year average. Through contests, schools such as Peterson Middle School encourage participation by students as well as teachers.
The district issues awards twice a year. Participation is mandatory for all regular schools. Each school receives an award based upon savings earned or a participation award of $250 based upon the school's efforts. Schools receive an award based upon the amount of savings and the number of students participating. The awards are as follows: 5 to 20 percent savings - $.50 per student, 20 to 24.99 percent savings - $.75 per student, 25 to 29.99 percent savings - $1.00 per student and 30 percent or more - $1.25 per student. Awards are deposited in school instructional supply accounts. Exhibit 4-11 lists the second set of district awards. The second set of awards indicated an increase in the number of schools earning savings, with awards made to five of the six schools versus only two in the first set of awards and an increase of $12,574 in overall energy savings.
Exhibit 4-11 Source: KISD assistant superintendent of Business and Finance, April and May 2002.
KISD Energy Savings Incentive Program
Awards for June - December 2001
School Five-year
BenchmarkJune - December
2001 UsageSavings Percent
SavedSchool
AwardDaniels Elementary $25,059 $23,246 $1,813 7% $317.00 Nimitz Elementary 37,447 35,089 2,358 6% 287.50 Starkey Elementary 36,092 35,119 973 3% 250.00 Tivy Upper Elementary 31,868 30,268 1,600 5% 365.00 Peterson Middle School 48,233 42,389 5,844 12% 334.50 Tivy High School 69,332 47,640 21,692 31% 1,701.25 Total $248,031 $213,751 $34,280 14% $3,255.25 This program has saved the district energy costs and promoted student interest and awareness. Additional ideas to involve schools in energy conservation can be found on the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) Web site.
For example, SECO has a school-based program called Watt Watchers or Watt Team. Students learn ways to save energy and how to teach others. The program provides free materials, training and site support to students in grades 1 through 12. This program not only saves money at the schools, but students learn how to develop a habit of saving energy in their homes as well. The Watt Watchers program also involves starting an Energy Patrol at individual schools. The Energy Patrol consists of teachers, students, parents and community volunteers who work together to implement energy conservation practices, such as:
- planting trees around the building to provide shade and improve the environment;
- checking door and window weather stripping for cracks;
- checking outside air dampers, heating, ventilation and air conditioning filters;
- developing maintenance schedules for monitoring energy conservation; and
- turning off fluorescent bulbs in soda machines.
COMMENDATION
Implementing a school energy incentive program at each school saves energy dollars and teaches conservation.
FINDING
The district has not had a formal energy management audit during the tenure of the current superintendent. The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) provides free energy management audits to public sector entities, including school districts. The audits provide detailed recommendations of equipment and procedures to implement, which serve as the basis for an energy management plan and estimate the amount of time it will take to recoup money spent on energy efficient equipment through lower energy costs.
Recommendation 23:
Contact an energy consultant to conduct an energy management audit of all KISD facilities.
The audit should serve as the basis for the development of an energy management plan. Given the financial situation in the district, it may be necessary to implement the plan in stages over several years. The plan should include an analysis of cost benefits, consideration of alternatives, a schedule to implement and the sources of funding for implementation
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The director of Maintenance contracts with an energy consultant to perform an energy management audit. November 2002 2. The energy consultant completes the audit and provides KISD with recommendations. March 2003 3. The director of Maintenance, working with the assistant superintendent of Business and Finance, reviews the report and develops a recommended implementation plan. April 2003 4. The superintendent approves the plan and submits it to the board. May 2003 5. The board approves the plan and directs implementation. September 2003 6. The director of Maintenance evaluates the results of the plan at the end of the first year of implementation and annually thereafter. October 2004 and Ongoing FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation can be implemented with existing resources.