The Challenge
- Escalating energy costs and already tight operating budgets
- Inefficient and dated HVAC and water heating systems
- Various sources of energy loss throughout the facilities
- Overall environment was not optimized for learning (e.g., lighting and comfort of classrooms)
- Understood need for improvements; however, a creative solution was required to overcome budget challenges
The Solution
TEPG and its partners conducted an energy audit to learn how and where energy was being used.
Baldwin’s customized energy savings plan included the following for both the elementary and high/middle school buildings:
Upgraded boiler with a more efficient system
- Replaced inefficient domestic hot water systems
- Provided intelligent occupancy sensors for concession machine control
- Installed weather stripping on exterior doors
- Added Electronic Recovery Ventilators in classrooms and offices for increased efficiency and comfort
- Replaced lighting fixtures with more efficient fixtures
- Added occupancy sensors to lighting
- Replaced obsolete management system with a new energy management system
- Provided test and balancing for HVAC systems, monitoring and ensuring proper air and water flow to each device in the system
- Provided a commissioned report to ensure all devices are working at optimal levels
- Created an energy playbook, establishing an school-wide energy policy
- Provided ongoing training for staff, administration and teachers and helped the district create an energy curriculum
- Offered thermography services, using an infrared camera to identify air and water leakage and eliminate wasted energy
- TEPG and its partners also quantified the amount of anticipated energy savings in terms of usage and dollars.
- TEPG also created a financing plan whereby Baldwin Community Schools could use the identified savings to pay for the needed upgrades…meaning no out-of-pocket expenses for the district.
The Results
Enables a savings of…
- $81,733 annually in energy costs
- $15,000 annually in operational savings
- Resulted in a total of $2,081,955 in energy savings over 15 years
- Combats escalating energy costs
- Provides a more comfortable and conducive to learning
- Offers systems that are easier and less costly to maintain