Eastside Green Schools Initiative

By Myrle D. McLernon

I propose a top-down energy and water consumption analysis of all school sites to create an energy and water conservation plan

Currently our schools spend approximately $600,000 on electricity and gas in a year. I feel an energy audit could reduce the existing consumption by 10% just through energy management and establishing best practices at each school site. Further savings can be achieved through the use of smart controllers and active conservation systems.

Each school site has its own challenges. Eastside School pumps its own water from a well, creating the highest electricity rate per school site in the district. Eastside does have advantages. Alternative energy generation is the most likely here because of the size of the site and the available rooftop areas for wind and solar applications.

Tierra Bonita is a fairly compact site with clustered buildings. There are opportunities here for energy efficient heating and cooling units to be retrofitted on the classrooms. Coupled with digital programmable thermostats, these should reduce electricity consumption onsite by 10% to 15% annually.

Cole Middle School has a modern look with fairly new heating and cooling equipment. There is still room for improvement here as cool roof applications and programmable heating and cooling controls would still increase energy savings.

Columbia Elementary is the newest school we have and it shows in the electricity consumption. It uses only 74% of the electricity as the other sites in the district. I believe this should be our goal for all of the sites.

The cost of such an audit is minimal. Any energy conservation improvements may be completely covered by state and federal energy rebates and stimulus monies. The opportunity to lead the way for a smarter cleaner way to make the schools comfortable for our children is one of my highest priorities for the coming years.

If you believe as I do in a forward thinking school district able to thrive in times of fiscal crisis, please vote on November 3rd.

Myrle D. McLernon A.I.A. LEED AP MDM Architects Candidate Eastside School Board