(YORK CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD)
The York Catholic DSB’s EcoChampions Program is an engaging, educational and pragmatic approach to teaching and realizing the benefits of energy cost savings. The board is currently enjoying energy savings equal to 10% of previous costs, while the math and science curricula have been expanded to include energy conservation and other environmental subjects. Perhaps even more important, EcoChampions proves that an individual can really affect the environment – simply by turning off a few lights – which is the message that student ambassadors take home to their friends and families.
EcoChampions is a two-part program. An interval meter is installed in the school and is connected the building automation system. Energy statistics from the meter are displayed on a monitor in the school foyer and in classrooms via the intranet.
If pre-set energy consumption thresholds are exceeded, “Save Energy” LED signs in all classrooms and public areas flash. When the LED flashes, an energy savings plan swings into action. As each tactic is introduced, students may log into the Eco Website or view the central system monitor to see the actual, verifiable impact of their conservation efforts.
The total program costs, mainly for meters, LEDs and wiring, amounted to $7 thousand per school. The costs tend to be paid back through energy savings in a little over two years. Currently, 25 schools have signed up; YCDSB plans to have another 55 schools on the EcoChampions program by the end of 2010, and all schools will be completed by 2011.
CASE STUDY:
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GREEN SCHOOLS RESOURCE GUIDE
4.1.4 Green Transportation
Emissions from school buses can affect the air quality in and around school buildings. By reducing school bus idling, retrofitting existing buses with devices that reduce pollution and/or using cleaner burning fuel, emissions from buses can be reduced.
A green school should consider the following policies to minimize the exposure of children to exhaust and reduce emissions.
• Locate vehicle drop-offs down wind and remotely from buildings air intakes, doors and operable windows
• Eliminate unnecessary bus idling, by limiting idling time during early morning warm-up to what the manufacturer recommends (generally no more than five minutes) and turning off engines as soon as possible after arriving
• Post signs and advise parents and delivery trucks to turn off engines when waiting on school grounds
• Replace the oldest buses in the fleet (manufactured prior to 1990) with new, less-polluting buses
• Maximize school bus routes to reduce the number of buses on the road.
• Upgrade or retrofit buses in the fleet with better emission control technologies (e.g., oxidation catalysts or particulate matter filters) and/or fuel them with cleaner fuels (e.g., biodiesel blended fuel and ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel)
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4.1.5 Green Purchasing
Products that cause the least environmental impacts during their manufacture, shipping, use and eventual reuse, recycling or disposal are preferred for green schools. Green Purchasing can cover many areas including furniture, equipment and office supplies. Furniture buying decisions can affect the indoor air quality and environmental foot print of the school. Selection of equipment can also impact indoor air quality and energy consumption. Office supplies can impact the school’s environmental footprint.
Furniture
Off-gassing, particularly of new furniture, can result in poor air quality, including reports of a chemical smell, headaches and nausea. Low Volatile Organic Compound emitting furniture should be considered. Furniture can also be a source of environmental impacts resulting from the manufacturing process (toxic by-products and embodied energy) and from long distance shipping. Local manufacturers using tow-toxicity materials and high recycled components would be preferable for a green school. Listing of preferred green suppliers and buyer guides are available from a number of sources. A Canadian eco-rating organization, TerraChoice, lists green office furniture choices on a searchable office furniture guide. The Collaborative of High Performance School also list green furniture choices available
Equipment
Electrical and electronic equipment can represent more than 15% of a schools overall energy use. Environmental impacts of manufacturing and disposal of electronic equipment should also be considered. Energy Star™ copiers, fax machines, computers, printers, dishwashers, and refrigerators have the best energy efficiency.
Office Supplies
Art supplies, inks, toners, and paper also have environmental impacts. A green school should consider ordering print jobs on post-consumer recycled paper and specify that such jobs be double-sided wherever possible. Use vegetable oil or water-based ink for printing. Purchase supplies and equipment made with recycled content materials (i.e., paper products, engine oil, paints, office products, carpeting, building materials and outdoor benches/tables). Consider remanufactured items, such as recharged toner cartridges, re-formatted computer disks and returnable office equipment.
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GREEN SCHOOLS RESOURCE GUIDE
4.2 Step 11: Monitoring the Green School
Measurement of actual building performance is critical for several reasons: it provides accountability, builds support for further green initiatives, and provides data for continuous improvement.
The roster of specific performance indicators to be tracked should be determined according to the green objectives established for the school.
However, the following indicators should be considered for all schools:
• Energy and water consumption savings
• Occupant satisfaction (via post-occupation survey)
• Transportation modal splits (how many students and staff walk, bike, drive or use public transit?)
• Occupant behavior
• Waste/recycling ratios
• Greenhouse emissions
• Curriculum integration
Except for energy and water use, all of these indicators are to a certain degree subjective and influenced by factors beyond that of the building itself. They should not be taken as proof – one way or the other – of the benefits of green schools. These indicators are useful in establishing trends and benchmarks.
Celebrating the success of a project that delivers real benefits to operators, users and the community as a whole will build support for more green projects in the future. Reliable data provides important baselines that enable school officials to benchmark and keep records to determine which initiatives should be repeated, and which areas have potential for improvement.
Celebrating actual building performance provides accountability, builds support for further green initiatives and provides data for continuous improvement and optimization. School boards are accountable to ratepayers, to students and to staff. Any investment in green schools must demonstrate a return, whether that is in measured in terms of dollars, enhanced learning environments or improved environmental impacts.
The only way to verify predicted returns is by measuring the actual benefits realized by a project over its useful life.