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Empower Schools with Energy Efficiency Integration
Elkhorn Area School District

Embracing Energy-Saving Strategies

The Elkhorn Area School District (EASD) is exploring innovative ways to lower utility costs. With help from FOCUS ON ENERGY®, the District has made energy efficiency a top priority. By upgrading equipment and utilizing available resources, EASD is working toward long-term savings and more efficient energy use.

Elkhorn School 1
Energy-Saving Projects
Support and Benchmarking

In 2022, EASD teamed up with Focus on Energy to complete several energy-saving projects, including:

  • Elementary School Boiler Upgrade (March 2022)

  • High School Lighting Project (July 2022)

  • Hot Food Holding Cabinet (September 2022)

  • Solar Photovoltaic Installation (December 2022)

These early projects helped the district lay the groundwork for future improvements.

Energy assessments at the Middle School uncovered opportunities that will improve comfort and reduce energy use for years to come.

Later that same year, EASD received the Energy CLASS Prize, a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant helps schools reduce their energy use and train staff to manage energy more efficiently.

When Nick Datka became EASD’s Buildings & Grounds Supervisor in late 2023, he reached out to Focus on Energy for assistance in meeting the grant’s goals. This included collecting utility data and benchmarking the amount of energy each building used.

Finding Solutions

In January 2024, Focus on Energy assisted the district with their benchmarking efforts. They started with Elkhorn Middle School, which had high energy bills. A few years earlier, the school earned a score of 37 out of 100 through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® which confirmed the need for improvement. In April 2024, Focus on Energy completed an energy assessment of the middle school. Their Energy Advisor recommended a review of existing HVAC systems, including low-cost and no-cost measures to improve building performance. EASD quickly identified two major problems:

  • The high-efficiency boilers were running at full power more often than needed.
  • About 63% of the Variable Air Volume (VAV) box controllers were not working. This caused fans to overwork and waste electricity.
Repairs to the middle school’s high-efficiency boilers will significantly lower gas use during the                    heating season.

EASD took immediate action with cost-effective fixes. In August 2024, they adjusted boiler setting settings to reduce gas usage during the winter. They also plan to replace the broken VAV box controllers, with incentive support from Focus on Energy.

Thanks to these efforts, EASD has achieved the following:

  • 6,837 Therms of natural gas saved per year.

  • 269,121 kWh of electricity saved per year.

  • 478,367 pounds of CO₂ emissions avoided yearly.

  • $39,398.25 in yearly utility cost savings.

  • $41,928.13 in financial incentives earned from Focus on Energy.

Elkhorn Quote 1

EASD is demonstrating schools can make impactful changes resulting in significant utility savings and improved learning environments. The district is continuing its energy efficiency journey by exploring new strategies, including:

  • Utility Bill Verified Savings: A Focus on Energy offering helping schools track their energy use and save money through low-cost or no-cost improvements.

  • Real-Time Monitoring: Technology that gives school staff live data on the amount of energy buildings are using, making it easier to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

  • Demand Control Ventilation: A system which adjusts fan speeds in large spaces like gyms and cafeterias based on the number of people in the room, saving energy without sacrificing comfort.

Saving Energy at Your School

Improving energy efficiency is more than saving money. It is about making decisions that benefit your school’s learning environment, too. Simple changes, such as adjusting equipment schedules or upgrading lighting, can reduce energy consumption and lower maintenance costs while creating a more comfortable space for students and staff to learn and work.

Start with a facility audit to identify areas with the highest energy use. Then, decide on improvements with the greatest impact. Over time, schools can build on these changes and invest in larger upgrades to achieve more savings.

Using tools to track energy can help schools monitor progress, identify problems, and maintain their energy systems effectively. When schools embrace a culture of energy efficiency, they can reduce costs and build a more sustainable future for their students and the communities they serve.

Get Started!

Contact Focus on Energy to learn about free energy assessments, benchmarking tools, and financial rebates designed for schools.

Empower Your School

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