Energy Conservation Guidelines

The district is committed to supporting the goals, laws, and initiatives of Senate Bill 12 – an act relating to programs for the enhancement of air quality, including energy efficiency standards and energy consumption reduction by five percent each year for six years. The goal of the district’s energy conservation program is to optimize energy consumption while balancing the energy needs and comfort levels for students and staff. In compliance with SB 12 and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, the district will operate in accordance with the following energy conservation guidelines.

 

Room Temperatures	Heating Season	Cooling Season
Classrooms, Computer Labs, Library, Band, Dance, Choir, Auditoriums, Kitchens and Offices, Gymnasiums, Field Houses, Locker Rooms, Shops, and Corridors	69-71 Degrees	76-78 Degrees
Unoccupied Areas	61-63 Degrees	85-87 Degrees

Energy Conservation Guidelines

1. Humidity levels will be maintained at 60 percent or less.
2. Guideline temperatures will be implemented from the time school starts until one hour before classes are dismissed
3. Campus-wide schedules provide for occupancy from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Schedules outside of these hours can be accommodated as necessary by submitting the proper request forms. If window treatments are available, close blinds or shades when space is not in use.
4. Spaces, such as computer lab facilities, requiring critical temperature settings, will be more closely controlled.
5. Buildings will be ventilated according to their design standards.
6. Report uncomfortable and obvious equipment repair problems to Energy Management and HVAC Department.
7. Exterior doors and interior vestibule doors will be kept closed.
8. Close shades or blinds when it’s warm to reduce solar heat gain. Open them when you are cool or need natural lighting.
9. Lights will be turned off in areas unoccupied for more than 10 minutes.
10. Use a light jacket or sweater to help keep the chill off. Please wear warm clothing, in layers.
11. Turn off equipment not being used, including computers, monitors, coffee makers, copiers, printers, and fax machines.
12. Set the computer power management so that the computer monitor turns off, and the CPU enters hibernate or standby mode when you leave your desk for extended periods. Technology Services may be contacted if assistance is needed in setting up your PC.
13. Develop a plan to assign building personnel to manually turn-off lights when not in use.
14. Adopt the last person out policy. The last person leaving labs, classrooms, offices, and meeting rooms should be responsible for turning off lights and equipment.
15. When purchasing PCs, monitors, fax machines and copiers, look for the Energy Star models
16. Enable power management features on laser printers and copies, and power them down whenever possible, particularly on evenings and weekends.
17. Campuses will promote water conservation in building operations.
18. Conserve water by reporting leaky faucets and running toilets.
19. Report water or energy waste to the Energy Management Department.
20. Implement paper reducing strategies such as double-sided printing and using e-mail instead of sending memos and faxes. Saving paper saves energy because it takes ten times more energy to manufacture a piece of paper than it does to put an image on it.
21. After hour facility usage should be monitored. Proper paperwork should be submitted to the HVAC Department.