Top Ten List
Ten Reasons Why Teaching About Energy is Essential from U.S. DOE’s EnergySmart Schools provides good reasoning for implementing energy into curriculum. (3/7/06)
Energy Policy Examples
The following provide ideas and strategies you can consider when developing your policy. As with most policies, each district has unique situations, with different needs, and any policy should be tailored to address the individual district's circumstances.
Sample energy policy from a Michigan district. (2/27/07)
Energy policy from a large suburban district in Maryland. (2/28/06)
Sample energy policy from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office. (2/28/06)
This Energy Management Policy template was developed by the Southwest Michigan Facilities and Operations Directors (SWMFOD).
SchoolDude Utility Direct Software
This software is a comprehensive utility management module entitled Utility Direct. It is provided and loaded with two years of district buildings utility data for all Energy Essentials Clients. SchoolDude, a premier provider of school maintenance management programs, offers several modules designed to increase efficiencies in school facilities management. All of SchoolDude’s products are endorsed by MSBO, resulting in a discount for Michigan school districts. (3/7/06)
Energy Star/EPA Website
Energy Star offers many tools to assist in energy management. One of these tools is a document entitled Guidelines for Energy Management. Another excellent resource is their K-12 page that offers information directed at schools to assist with energy management.
Energy Star’s Target Finder is designed to assist when planning new buildings. It is an internet-based tool that helps you manage energy during the design of a new building. With Target Finder you can set an aggressive energy performance target for a building design and compare your estimated energy consumption to the established target. Target Finder provides an energy performance target rating for whole-building energy use. (3/7/06)
Michigan Schools Energy Cooperative (MISEC)
MISEC is a not-for-profit entity designed for schools. All savings and rebates are passed through to its members. A significant component of any energy management program is the purchasing of your energy. There may be opportunities to save money by purchasing energy through a cooperative.
Low Cost/No Cost Energy Fixes
There are multitudes of Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) available to schools and individuals that require little or no investment, yet can have significant impact on reducing energy usage and costs.
Energy Star offers PC Power Management strategies designed to help reduce energy consumption from PC's. (4/3/07)
Energy Saving Tips for Schools from the Alliance to Save Energy, offers tips on lighting, heating and cooling, computers, appliances and school involvement. (3/7/06)
See the Appliance Wattage List for wattage estimates of various appliances. Small appliance usage in school buildings can increase electric consumption more than people know. Use this chart and the current cost of electricity to calculate the cost of operating these appliances. (3/7/06)
Reducing Natural Gas Usage is a document provided by the Federal Energy Management Program. (3/7/06)
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Resources for Teachers
The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Program educates students about energy efficiency and conservation, and provides tools to help educators, energy managers and consumers use energy wisely. (3/7/06)
A curriculum guide provides a list of available materials. (3/7/06)
There is a list of correlations of Michigan standards to the NEED curriculum. (3/7/06)
Energy Infobooks, with age appropriate energy information, is available for download in pdf format. (3/7/06)
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) offers kids' pages with energy information, along with a Classroom Activities Section. A List of Resources is also offered by EIA to provide students, educators, and other information users a list of generally available, free or low-cost energy-related educational materials. (3/7/06)
High Performance Buildings
It is important that school districts recognize the need to commit to more efficient buildings when constructing new schools. This section offers several resources for schools and school constructors to learn about high performance buildings and standards.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards incorporated into new buildings can result in more efficient buildings over the life of the building through reduced energy consumption, along with lower operational costs. Additionally, the standards are intended to reduce the environmental impact of the building. The U.S. Green Building Council develops the LEED standards. (3/7/06)
Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC) offers a High-Performance School Buildings Resource and Strategy Guide. (3/7/06)
High Performance Schools is also a concept that embraces creating efficient buildings. It has three main characteristics: it is healthy and productive for students and teachers, it is cost effective to operate and maintain, and it is sustainable, because it integrates energy conservation and renewable energy strategies, along with other environmentally friendly features. (3/7/06)
Resource Manuals and Forms
A National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools is also provided by EnergySmart Schools. (3/7/06)
School Operations and Maintenance: Best Practices for Controlling Energy Costs is a guidebook for K-12 School System Business Officers and Facilities Managers. This document, published in August 2004, provides excellent guidance on implementing an energy management program.
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