
Alder Creek Middle School in Truckee California: A Demonstration project for Collaborative for High Performance Schools
On March 16 the Texas House Energy Resources Committee heard testimony on HB 775 from Rep. Rafael Anchia. HB 775 would further enable school districts to reduce energy and water consumption, which saves money and improves the air quality of Texas schools. As public schools are facing grim budget decisions saving money on energy means more teachers in classrooms and a better education for Texas children.
Investing in energy efficiency measures saves school districts and taxpayers money in the long run because energy efficiency lowers electricity bills. Stated differently, failing to improve efficiency means school districts are wasting energy and needlessly straining tight budgets. Also, energy efficiency is one of the few measures that will reduce air pollution at the same time that it saves money. Many energy efficiency measures will require some upfront costs. However, school districts have several options for offsetting or avoiding those costs all together, including Texas LoanSTAR, performance contracts, and utility incentive programs. (You can read further explanations of these options/programs in my full testimony to the committee)
Specific School District Examples
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an energy-efficient school district with 4,000 students could save as much as $160,000 a year in energy costs, with savings reaching $1.6 million over ten years. Texas schools that have initiated energy conservation programs have already begun to realize savings with some relatively easy investments. The table below shows Texas school districts that have received funds from the LoanSTAR program for energy efficient measures and the estimated costs and savings.
School District | Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) | Total Estimated ECM costs | Annual Energy Cost Savings | Payback (years) |
Arlington | Replace lighting, correct power factor, upgrade mechanical system | $4,655,086 | $649, 880 | 7.2 |
Holliday | Replace lighting and HVAC systems | $188,169 | $20,120 | 9.4 |
Red Oak | Replace lighting, install occupancy sensors and EMS, institute payment and performance bonds | $2,214,305 | $311,887 | 7.1 |