Loudoun County Public Schools Saves $60+ Million

Energy Efficiency Case Study Series
Energy Legacy: Loudoun County Public Schools
Saves $60+ Million on Utilities
Summary
Description
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)
is a branch of the Loudoun County,
Virginia, government, and serves the
student population of the entire county.
The School District has 88 school
facilities, including 55 Elementary
Schools, 15 Middle Schools, 15 High
Schools, as well as a Technology Center,
a Center for Alternative Education, and a
Community Charter School. In a region
of rapid population growth, LCPS is
the fastest-growing school division in
Virginia and one of the fastest-growing
public school districts in the United
States, serving over 76,000 students in
the 2015–2016 academic year.
EnergyCAP Installation
Installed FASER (EnergyCAP
predecessor software) in May of 1993;
one of the first adopters for EnergyCAP
Professional in 2005; and today uses
EnergyCAP Professional Online, a
web-based release primarily used by
school districts.
Tracking
98 buildings representing over 11 million
square feet, with 205 electricity meters,
100 natural gas meters, 80 water meters,
50 diesel meters (for generators), 50
propane meters, and 15 heating oil
meters. The school district tracks 100
percent of its property portfolio.
In 1993, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) hired its very
first energy education specialist. No one knew then that energy
management would become such a big deal at LCPS, or that
documented energy savings would exceed $60 million in little more
than two decades. This case study provides a look at an award-winning
energy management program that has exhibited extraordinary success
and longevity—an energy management legacy.
The Need
Loudoun County Public School’s journey to legacy began with a
partnership. In 1993, the County was approached by representatives
of Energy Education, Inc. (now Cenergistic), a consulting and service
provider of energy reduction solutions. The business proposition was
unique for its time—there were virtually no upfront costs, and the
Cenergistic program would pay for itself with utility expense reductions.
The school district would share utility savings with Cenergistic for four
years. After the contract period was over, the district could continue
energy-saving habits cultivated during the implementation, and all future
savings would belong exclusively to the district and its stakeholders.
There was another perk to the Cenergistic proposal—most of the
emphasis of the program was on behavior change and not on
expensive retrofits and hardware. LCPS decided to accept the
Cenergistic proposal.
Creating a Baseline
First, LCPS needed to determine a verifiable baseline of current energy
use for every building in the program. Then that baseline period could
be used for comparisons with future performance to determine the
energy savings from energy management activities.
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Results were impressive from the start. Records
indicate that the LCPS fiscal year energy spend
from the baseline period (July 1993 to June 1994)
was $2,348,290. At the close of fiscal year 1995 (the
first full year with the Cenergistic program in place),
the school district had demonstrated utility cost
avoidance of $891,210—and cost savings of 28.9
percent!
LCPS had built a new Hillsboro elementary school
in 1967. The photo image shows both the old school
house (lower left) and the new school (circular). A
physical inventory of all the meters for which LCPS
was paying revealed the problem meter. LCPS quietly
turned the meter payments over to the Hillsboro
community association, which owns/operates the old
school house.
A similar situation involved a municipality-owned
water tower for which LCPS was paying the electric
bills.
The water tower and associated water treatment
facility (pictured above) was built by LCPS as part of
the requirements to be issued a construction permit
for Harmony Middle School (co-located on the site,
but not pictured). Although it was always the intent of
the project to turn the water tower over to the town of
Hamilton (which occurred in 2007), the transfer of the
electric utility account did not take place. As a result,
for many months LCPS was not only paying for the
water, but also for the electricity costs of supplying it.
Once again, a meter audit revealed the error.
Additional utility savings were discovered through an EnergyCAP
benchmarking report. Broad Run High School was found to have
unusually high water usage when compared to its sister school in
EnergyCAP. During a vacation period, when all water consuming
systems were turned off, leaks were identified in a number of pipe joints
that had failed.
This led to a major excavation project, since a domestic water line had
bad joints all along an entire length of the pipe.
2
Every 20 feet (at the end of each pipe segment), a hole had to
be dug and the pipe joint replaced.
This was a huge project that ended up generating significant
savings on water and natural gas, as the leaking water was
heated.
Consistent Messaging
A key to the LPCS energy management success is consistent
messaging—always linking energy management savings to
the core educational mission. In relation to the LCPS Energy
and Environment program, every school benefits from having
money that is no longer needed to pay utility bills re-directed
to classroom instructional programs. Schools have very
strong student and community drivers that push for both
fiscal and environmental stewardship; the LCPS Energy &
Environment Team is a ready outlet for school based interests
and efforts. Being recognized as a leader, not only in one’s
community, but also in the United States is appealing strong
driver. Being a leader allows students and communities to
help teach the rest of the nation how environmental and fiscal
stewardship, when taken seriously, will show real results.
The Power of People
People will always be the most important elements in a successful
energy management program. LCPS program administrators like to
point out that, “individuals who take up the mantle of being a champion
for the program are always the most effective communication tools.
Having a person who is capable of sharing data that shows where a
school is today, where it has come from and how it compares to the
ENERGY STAR program is very effective.” No matter what kind of
technological advances may be in place, regardless of the multi-media
nature of our modern world, and despite the obvious value that multiple
means of communication present, having real advocates who care, are
disciplined, and model best practices throughout the school system is
the best way to get the message out.
Celebrating Success
In 1993, LCPS entered into an agreement with Energy Education, Inc.
(now Cenergistic) to save money on energy and water utility bills. The
arrangement has been a great success.
The LCPS people-based energy management program celebrated its
20th anniversary in 2014. Over the last 21 years, LCPS has saved over
$64 million in expected utility costs—equivalent to hiring over 1,300 first
year teachers or educating over 5,200 pupils for a year. In addition, 62
LCPS schools have earned the ENERGY STAR rating (representing over
3
Over the last 21 years, LCPS
has saved over $64 million
in expected utility costs—
equivalent to hiring over 1,300
first year teachers or educating
over 5,200 pupils for a year.
70 percent of LCPS schools and 6.5 million square feet). LCPS (as a
district) earned “ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year” in 2010 and 2011,
and the Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award for 2012, 2013,
2014 and 2015.
Conclusion
Loudoun County Public Schools provides a powerful educational model
for long-term energy management success. People-based programs
have been, and still are, very successful at reducing energy use and
cost significantly. This is especially true when a large school district can
tap into energy expertise and powerful energy tracking tools. LCPS has
both, along with the experience and inertia of a two-decades-long story
to propel the organization forward with additional savings in its bright
future.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful to John Lord & Michael Barancewicz, Energy Education
Specialists for the Loudoun County Public Schools, for their assistance
in preparing this Case Study.
EnergyCAP, Inc.
2026 Sandy Drive
State College, PA 16803
© 2015 EnergyCAP, Inc. All rights reserved.
877.327.3702
www.EnergyCAP.com
[email protected]
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Loudon County Public Schools
Saves $60+ Million
Loudon County Public Schools (LCPS) is a branch
of the Loudon County, VA, government, and serves
the student population of the entire county.
The School District has school facilities, in cludin g:
55
15
15
1
1
Elem.
Schools
Middle
Schools
High
Schools
Alt. Ed
Center
Charter
School
In 1993, LCPS was offered an energy reduction program
that would pay for itself with utility expense reductions.
After the first year with the new
energy program in place, the school district had
demonstrated utility cost avoidance of
$891,210 and cost savings of 28.9%
EnergyCAP meter audits revealed
that LCPS had been payin g
for several utility accounts that
they no longer owned or operated.
205
EnergyCAP benchmarkin g reports led
to a major excavation project to correct
leaky pipe joints. This generated major
savin gs on water and natural gas,
as the leakin g water was heated.
LCPS uses
EnergyCAP to track
electricity
meters
98 buil dings
5
heatin g oil
meters
100
50
natural gas
meters
diesel
meters
80
50
water
meters
propane
meters
The school district tracks
Over the last 21 years,
LCPS has saved over
$64 million
100% of its property portfolio.
Over 70 percent
of LCPS schools have earned the
ENERGY STAR ratin g.
in expected utility costs...
...which is equivalent to
hirin g over 1,300
first year teachers...
...or educatin g over
5,200 pupils for a year.
©2015 EnergyCAP, Inc.
LCPS (as a dis trict) earned “ENERGY STAR
Partner of the Year” in 2010 and 2011,
and the Partner of the YearSustained Excellence Award
for 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
www.EnergyCAP.com