LOW-COST STRATEGIES TO SAVE ENERGY IN K-12 SCHOOLS

Abstract

Advanced Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) offer an excellent means of reducing energy consumption in Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems while maintaining and improving indoor environmental conditions. This can be achieved through the use of computational intelligence and optimization with a building automation system and multiple sensors, which can be quite expensive. However, energy awareness and proper scheduling achieve the best opportunities to save energy with little to no cost for existing facilities. These "low-tech/low-cost" ideas are easily implemented and quickly reduce utility costs. This article includes actual utility data and information gathered over the past 20 years while performing energy audits at several K-12 Schools in North Carolina, discusses well known and documented control strategies that are rarely implemented in most school districts and universities and will extrapolate savings for an entire school district based on real data. These processes can also be integrated into an EMCS to perform several intelligent functions achieving optimal system performance. This article focuses on control strategies utilizing time-of-day scheduling that can be used with 7-day programmable thermostats, electronic time controllers and a Building Automation System (BAS). These controllers (7d-prog. thermostat, electronic time controller and BAS) will achieve lower energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort by performing and prioritizing the appropriate actions. Real savings can be achieved quickly by utilizing these common sense approaches to control existing HVAC and lighting systems in schools.