Energy program helps Flushing schools save $137,000

The Flushing Observer

by Nikki Brand
March 06, 2008

FLUSHING — An energy management program has saved the Flushing School District $137,085 in natural gas, water/sewer and electricity expenses so far this school year compared to last year.

The district entered into an agreement with Energy Education Inc., an energy management consulting company, in June 2007. Paul Martin, the school district's energy manager, gave a presentation to the Board of Education on Tuesday outlining the program's goals, how it works, and statistics for the past six months schools have been in session.

“The goals have been to eliminate energy waste by auditing buildings during unoccupied times, monitor buildings during occupied times, track and analyze consumption for building efficiency, use tools and diagnostic loggers to track waste and maintain energy policy and guidelines,” Martin said.

Martin gave an example of energy monitoring — that if boilers at an elementary school turn up at 6 a.m. and reach the desired temperature of 68 degrees at 7:30 a.m. but students don't arrive at the school until 9 a.m., then the boilers are starting heating too soon.

He also said minimizing energy consumption and auditing and monitoring utility meters to catch mistakes and overcharges has already proved helpful. He said an error in a bill from Consumers Energy was caught and addressed with the company.

Martin said changes in lighting in classrooms — using two bulbs instead of three — has helped conserve energy. He stressed that the comfort level of people in the buildings has not been compromised.

“We are not going to make the students work in the dark and have to wear their coats all day long,” Martin said.

To accurately compare changes in energy consumption between two time periods, computer tools have been used that consider such factors as changes in weather and differences in the length of billing periods.

From September 2006  – February 2007, compared to September 2007 – February 2008, the district reduced its consumption of electricity by 27.8 percent, of natural gas by 18 percent and water and sewer by 43.6 percent.

“Our district has saved 867.615 kilowatt hours of electricity, which is the equivalent of 122 automobiles being removed from the highways annually,” Martin said. “It is also the equivalent of 252 acres of trees being planted.”

Martin said staff from custodians to teachers and administrators have been helpful in implementing energy conservation practices. He said custodians have gone into buildings where weekends are coupled with days off school at the beginning or end of a week and turned thermostats down in each room and then up in each room before school begins. He said it is a tedious process and commended the custodial staff for their hard work.

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