Using Technology to Manage Energy

Bob Schoch-Director of Business Administration

Tom Schneider-Supervisor of Operations

Applying Technology to Program Management

• Data driven decision making– Determine program potential– Prioritize efforts– Monitor performance for sustainability

• Applied technology– Automated temperature control systems– Technical skills of facilities staff– Retro-commissioning– Future plans

Determine Performance Gap

Although utility costs are less controllable than staffing costs, utilities represent a large expense and may offer a possibility for significant savings. This major expense saw one of the largest percentage increases for 2001-2002 at 13%. In dollars per square foot, utilities increased from $1.15 to $1.30.

STUDENT COUNT

All Districts More Than7,0002001-2002 2003-2004

Highest 1/3From $2.04 $2.65 $1.88

To $1.28 $1.43 $1.52

Mid 1/3

From $1.27 $1.42 $1.51

Median $1.15 $1.30 $1.44

To $1.06 $1.16 $1.27

Lowest 1/3From $1.05 $1.15 $1.26

To $0.60 $0.53 $0.97

14. Utilities per Square Foot of Instructional Building SpaceThe 2003-2004 PASBO Facilities Benchmarking Report showed that Council Rock SD was at the high end, at $1.80/gsf, of the highest 1/3 of utilities cost per square foot for districts with a student count over 7,000. The median for the group was $1.44/gsf and the lowest at $0.97/gsf.

$2.18$2.11

$1.92

$1.67 $1.65$1.58 $1.56 $1.56

$1.34

$-

$0.50

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50Benchmark - Energy Cost per GSF

Council Rock School District

$/G

SF

Determine Performance Gap – Consultant

In 2005, Aramark also provided an energy survey and benchmarking – Performance gap was difference between CRSD at $2.11/gsf and average performance at $1.65/gsf or best performance at $1.34/gsf.

93

111

146

80 84

99 101

111

103

71

89

172

86 84

112

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

North High

School

South High

School

Holland

Middle

Newtown

Middle

Richboro

Middle

Churchville Goodnoe Hillcrest Holland

Elementary

Newtown

Elementary

Richboro

Elementary

Rolling Hills Sol Feinstone Welch Wrightstown

73

82 78

58 60

71

8173 76

53

68

77

43

59

84

North HighSchool

South HighSchool

HollandMiddle

NewtownMiddle

RichboroMiddle

Churchville Goodnoe Hillcrest HollandElementary

NewtownElementary

RichboroElementary

Rolling Hills SolFeinstone

Welch Wrightstown

Jan05 – Dec05 Average

102 kBTU/GSF

Jan06 – Dec06 Average

71 kBtu/GSF

kBT

U/G

SF

Energy Intensity Change by School

Implementing Plans & Monitoring Progress

Council Rock School DistrictSchool Performance Through April 2008

kBTU/ GSF

43.2

48.5

49.6

51.9

55.8

56.0

57.1

60.3

62.5

63.8

64.2

64.3

65.8

66.2

72.4

80.9

Newtown MS

Newtown ES

Sol Feinstone ES

Welch ES

Rolling Hills ES

Richboro MS

Goodnoe ES

South HS

Churchville ES

Hillcrest ES

Chancellor Center

Richboro ES

Holland MS

North HS

Wrightstown ES

Holland ES

Cost/ GSF

$1.14

$1.56

$1.37

$1.55

$1.97

$1.50

$1.42

$1.63

$1.58

$1.64

$1.65

$1.77

$1.79

$1.67

$1.71

$1.59

Energy Reduction

46%

32%

42%

38%

75%

33%

33%

46%

36%

42%

39%

28%

55%

28%

36%

22%

EnergyStar Rating

85

76

77

64

49

58

47

52

39

34

76

24

57

36

22

28

Implementing Plans & Monitoring Progress

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%J an Feb Mar Apr May J un J ul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Consumption Reduction

2006 2007 2008

$-

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

J an Feb Mar Apr May J un J ul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monthly Cost Savings 2006

2007

2008

16

52

X 1,775 off of the road

X 1,045 powered for a year

Planting 1,525 acres of

Our Environmental Contribution(based on prevented carbon emissions)

Energy Program Principles

• Results achieved in 30 months with less than $150,000 in capital improvements by applying simple principles to complex systems

• Principle 1- Turn things off when they are not needed (and nobody will care)(Schools are occupied 10 hours/day for 200 days/yr for 2000 hours in a year of 365 days with 24 hours each or 8760 hours/year. Unoccupied 73% of the hours in a year.)

• Principle 2- Set temperatures 2 degrees more comfortable than other government and education policies to foster support(Set heating at 70 not 68 degrees and set cooling at 76 not 78 degrees for 27% of the hours in a year. Use deep setbacks 73% of the time.)

Applied Technology

• Automated Temperature Control Systems

• Technical Skills of a HVAC Specialists

• Retro-Commissioning

• Future Plans and Abilities

Automated Temperature Control Systems

• Remote Monitoring

• Remote and Onsite Troubleshooting– Wireless Connectivity

• HVAC Scheduling

Automated Temperature Control Systems

Automated Temperature Control Systems

Automated Temperature Control Systems – Remote Monitoring

• Multiple people reviewing operation of the building.

• Able to monitor operation and building conditions remotely.

• Able to adjust operation in case of emergency closures (Snow Days).

Automated Temperature Control Systems – Troubleshooting

• Remote troubleshooting - If assistance is needed from a higher technical skill, they are able to connect remotely to review operation.

• Onsite troubleshooting – The ability to troubleshoot the equipment with a wireless laptop. Offers ability to have the equipment right in front of you when it is operating.

Automated Temperature Control Systems - Scheduling

• Scheduling can be achieved on a zone or area basis.

• Individual areas can be scheduled on and off depending upon activities.

• The District achieves greatest conservation during unoccupied times. It is important to have systems off when not needed.

Technical Skills of a HVAC Specialists

• The skills have moved from being a “wrench turner” to a computer user.– Must understand sequence of operations of

complicated HVAC Systems.– Must understand the control software and

how changes affect operation.– Must have computer skills and understand

computer based controls.

Retro-Commissioning

• Ensure equipment operates properly.– Ensure sensors are calibrated and responding.– Ensure valves operate correctly.– Ensure equipment turns off and stays off when

commanded.

• Modifying the operation of the building to suit it’s current use.– Rebuild zones, areas and how systems operate.– Have different equipment operate differently.

• Via CO2 sensors• Adjusting temperature settings.

Future Plans and Abilities

• Replace site light timers with Direct Digital Controls (DDC) and install photocells.

• Control electrical demand by having the control system change temperature or lighting as demand increases.

• Monitor rooms for occupancy with infrared technology.

• Control the level of lighting in spaces.• Control outside air requirements by using CO2

and humidity sensors.