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.