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Littleton Public Schools Regulation |
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Policy Code ECF-R Policy Name Energy Conservation September 7, 1993 March 31, 2009 |
Guidelines for energy conservation have been developed to assist in the District energy management program. Experience has shown that adherence to these established guidelines provides for the greatest balance between environmental comfort and energy conservation.
These guidelines supersede all previous instructions. It is essential that energy guidelines be observed for the operation of the cooling and heating equipment. The teacher working with the custodian is responsible for implementing the guidelines during the time that he/she is present in the classroom. The principal is held responsible for the total energy usage of his/her building. The principal will be provided information reflecting the energy consumption for his/her building monthly.
To maintain an environment that is conducive to the educational process, the classroom temperature should be between 76 and 79 degrees during the cooling season and between 67 and 71 degrees during the heating season.
Specific areas of emphasis include:
1. Every student and employee is expected to contribute to energy efficiency in the District. Each is expected to be an “energy saver” as well as an “energy consumer.”
2. All unnecessary lighting will be turned off. All lights will be turned off when students and teachers leave school. Custodians will turn on lights only in the areas in which they are working.
3. Air conditioning will only be used in the summertime in schools having summer school and in main office areas.
4. Any regularly scheduled building usage during nonschool hours must be coordinated with the energy manager. This includes before/after school care, as well as nonschool District entities.
5. The areas of a building to be used for child care should be determined by the principal working in concert with the energy manager.
6. The lead custodian at each school will be responsible for a complete and total shutdown of the facility when closed each evening. The principal will be responsible to ensure a system is in place to carry out the necessary procedures.
7. The principal, lead custodian, and energy manager will work together to set an HVAC schedule for each school. The principal will be responsible to notify the energy manager of any need to alter this schedule.
Procedure for Operating Air Conditioning Equipment
The following energy conservation procedures are to be observed in those buildings possessing air conditioning equipment:
1. There will be times when the outdoor temperature is such that the energy management system will not allow the cooling equipment to operate. During these times, windows and fans should be used to help with temperature control. It will be the teacher’s responsibility to close all windows and doors to his/her classroom when the air conditioning system is operating.
2. Interior lights should only be used when needed. Lights not only consume electricity, but, also give off heat, which in turn places an additional load on the air conditioning equipment. This additional heat increases the amount of electricity needed to cool the room.
3. The air conditioning equipment should be turned off when students leave school. It is anticipated that the temperature of the classroom will be maintained long enough to afford comfort for the period the teacher remains after the students have left.
4. Under no circumstances will air conditioning be utilized in classrooms during the summer months unless the classrooms are being used for summer school.
5. The air conditioning systems are meant to cool classrooms, offices, and media centers. For systems to work properly and satisfy the load for which they were designed, interior doors to areas that are cooled and exterior doors must be closed.
Procedure for Operating Heating Equipment
The following energy conservation guidelines are to be observed when operating heating equipment in school buildings:
1. The thermostat controls shall be set no higher than 71 degrees.
2. Windows and outside doors will be closed when the heating equipment is in operation.
3. In those buildings with areas not controlled by the District’s energy management system, the principal or his/her designee will be responsible for setting thermostats at 55 degrees at the end of each day.
4. Portable, electric heaters are not to be used without prior approval of the energy manager.
Procedures for Operating Lighting and Other Electrical Equipment
1. Lights in the classrooms should not be turned on until needed. Teachers should make certain that lights are turned off when leaving the classroom.
2. Lights in all gymnasiums should not be left on unless the gym is being utilized.
3. All outside lights should be turned off during daylight hours.
4. Custodians should turn lights on only in the specific room(s) in which they are working.
5. All computer equipment, monitors, TV, VCRs, DVDs, SMART Boards, projectors, copiers, and office machines should be turned off at the end of each day.