Energy Efficiency in Existing Schools O

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Energy Efficiency in Existing Schools OM
Engineering or Social Science?

• Hale Powell
• National Grid
• March 27, 2002

Warning No Glitzy Technology gtgtgtgtgt
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Existing vs New Schools

• Massachusetts Average School Age 50 Years
• New Schools are a Tiny Fraction of National
  School Sector
• If Achieved, Substantial Energy Savings must come
  from Existing Schools
• This is not an Engineering or Design Problem!

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National Grid RCM Program

• Operations and Maintenance Focus
• Modeled on Pacific Northwest RCM Efforts 12
  Typical Savings
• Low Cost / No Cost OM for all Fuels
• Detailed Energy Accounting
• Utility Role in 2 Year RCM Partnership
• Training and Technical Assistance
• Administrative and Limited Financial Support
• Salary Guarantee for School District Employee

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Promoting RCM Why Would a School District Say
NO?

• Course Changes are Difficult in Large
  Organizations
• Objective Keep the Ship Afloat
• Lack of Energy Awareness

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RCM District Profiles Three Large Urban Districts

• 139 Schools with 8 million square feet
• 60 Year Average Age
• 54,000 students
• 10.1 Million/yr in energy costs
• Predominant Heating fuels oil and natural gas
• Low Levels of Periodic Maintenance

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RCM District Profiles Wide Range of Annual
Energy Use
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RCM District Profiles Three Large Urban Districts

• Energy Costs by Fuel

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What Are the Actual Savings Opportunities with
OM?

• Improved Control Over Building Systems!!
• Boiler, HVAC and Lighting Operation
• Vacation and Off Hour Shutdowns
• Setbacks,Timeclocks and EMS
• Vending Machines and Lighting Control
• Improved Maintenance of Key Systems
• Steam Traps, Unit Ventilators, Dampers
• Boiler Feedwater and Heat Transfer
• Boiler Combustion Efficiency

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OM Savings Opportunities Energy Time Money!
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Example Building Control

• Typical KW Load Profile - Large High School
  (January 2002)
• Peak Day, Weekday, Weekend
• Uncontrolled 500 KW Demand 24/7
• 1,500 day Electric Unoccupied Days

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Example Equipment Control

• Refrigerated Vending Machines
• 24/7 Operation 3000 to 5000 kWh/yr
• 40 Savings For Control 1 Yr Payback

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Example Boiler Maintenance

• Combustion Testing Poor Boiler Efficiency
• From 60 to 80 Efficiency
• Boiler Feed Water Treatment and Blowdowns
• Internal Corrosion and Scale
• Impaired Heat Transfer to Distribution
• Premature Equipment Failure

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Example Steam System Maintenance

• Un-insulated Steam Lines, Valves and Condensate
  Tanks.
• Leaky Steam Traps

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Major Barriers Social Science, Not Engineering

• Extreme Lack of Staff Information and Cost
  Awareness
• Limited Staff and Resources
• Absence of Staff Incentives for Improvement
• Reactive, Crisis-Driven Maintenance, Not
  Proactive

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Major Barriers Social Science, Not Engineering

• Custodial Staff Partnership is Undervalued and
  Undertrained

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Major Barriers Social Science, Not Engineering

• State Funding Disincentives for Maintenance
• Regulatory Obstacles to Performance Contracts
• Building Maintenance is Low District Funding
  Priority

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Program Lessons Learned

• School Districts Are Large, Complex Organizations
• OM Savings are Available and Cheap
• Staff Incentives are Critical
• OM Requires Difficult Cultural Change in School
  Districts

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Program Lessons Learned-

• OM Requires Leadership from the Bridge.
• Active Support from Senior Administrators is
  Essential!!

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Program Lessons Learned

• One Program Size DOESNT Fit All School Districts
• Outside Sponsors Have Limited Ability to Foster
  Change
• RCM Selection and Affiliation is Critical
• Addressing Regulatory and Funding Barriers May
  Facilitate Change

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Program Lessons Learned

• The Critical Agent for OM Improvement