Abbotsford School District 34

The story

"Saving on energy costs enables us to put the money where it really counts – providing education services to the students of Abbotsford."

— Joanne Field, School Board Chair, School District 34

Background

For School District 34 (Abbotsford), education is the number one priority. However, in a rapidly growing school district like Abbotsford, located in one of Canada's fastest-growing communities, it can be a challenge to meet all the varied needs of the education community.

Fortunately, School District 34 believes that energy efficiency is both cost-effective and sustainable. The district has long recognized that it makes business sense to focus resources on energy efficiency because the savings realized can be diverted back into the classroom. For over a decade, Abbotsford has been an active participant in Power Smart programs, implementing many energy efficiency upgrades and awareness programs. As district Secretary Treasurer George Murray says: "Energy conservation is just plain wise stewardship of the taxpayers' money!"

Initiatives

Abbotsford School District became a Power Smart Partner in 2002. With the assistance of BC Hydro and under the proactive leadership of the district's facilities manager, Abbotsford adopted a far-reaching Energy Master Plan to reduce energy use by 10% by 2008. Remarkably, the school district achieved the savings within a year. So Abbotsford simply set a new five-percent target, to be met within the same time period. When that is achieved, School District 34 will have reduced its energy consumption by 50% since 1992.

Abbotsford has achieved these impressive results by making energy efficiency a district-wide commitment. A dedicated energy management team is in place with support at every level, from the Board on down. The team meets regularly to monitor and report on energy use and highlight areas for action. Abbotsford's facilities manager, assisted by an energy coordinator, oversees the Energy Master Plan and ensures that the district seizes every opportunity to save energy, from operational changes to equipment and system upgrades.

Under the guidance of the Energy Master Plan, School District 34 has carried out many different Power Smart measures over the past few years:

Behavioural and operational changes

• Performed night audits, placing friendly reminders on equipment and systems that have been left on unnecessarily. This simple practice has raised awareness and led to procedural changes that have saved significant amounts of energy.
• Adopted a policy banning the use of incandescent lights in new and existing schools, ensuring energy savings for years to come.
• Instituted gang-cleaning of schools in the summer to minimize the operation of lights and fans.
• Instituted a summer shutdown program in which rental and summer use is limited to a few buildings, and power and HVAC systems in unused buildings are shut down. In 2002, this practice saved $46,500 worth of electricity.

Energy efficiency upgrades

• Conducted 20 detailed energy audits between 2000/01 and 2003/04.
• Implemented numerous lighting upgrades, including installing energy-efficient T8 and T5 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts; converting exit signs from incandescents to LEDs; tying photocells to daylighting for exterior and atrium lighting so that lights stay off until dusk; and installing occupancy sensors in gyms, changerooms and cafeterias.
• Installed various energy controls and direct digital control (DDC) systems to improve the control and comfort of HVAC systems.
• Built eight new schools using energy-efficient lighting and/or DDC controls. This step alone has saved one gigawatt hour in avoided energy use.
• Pioneered the use of computer shutdown software to ensure that computers are turned off during unoccupied hours. This initiative is saving over $30,000 each year in reduced energy waste.

Environmental initiatives

• Purchased enough Green Power Certificates to completely power the school board office and facilities department office buildings, as part of an overall commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Partnered with the City of Abbotsford to promote the federal government's One Tonne Challenge.

Education and training

• Provides regular energy efficiency training for trades and custodial staff.
• Has implemented energy conservation programs for students and teachers.

Since 1992, even though the gross area of Abbotsford School District increased by 38%, the district has reduced its electricity use intensity (that is, the amount of electricity used per square metre) by 45%. However, Abbotsford is not stopping there. The district has committed to achieving a further five-percent electricity reduction by 2008 through intensified behavioural initiatives and school retrofits.

Moreover, Abbotsford has taken a leadership role in sharing energy-saving ideas with other school districts, spreading the Power Smart message.

In recognition of School District 34's outstanding results and continuing commitment, BC Hydro has designated School District 34 a Power Smart Certified Customer, the first school district in the province to achieve the Certified designation.

Benefits

Electricity cost savings

From 2002 through 2004, Abbotsford's electricity performance improved by 34%. This equates to over 4.4 gigawatt hours per year in electricity savings, or about $188,400 in annual cost savings. In addition to electricity savings, the district is enjoying reduced maintenance costs as a result of longer-lasting technologies.

Enhanced comfort

Thanks to the lighting and HVAC upgrades, Abbotsford's schools are brighter and more comfortable, creating a better learning and working environment for students, teachers and staff.

Reduced environmental impact

Abbotsford's purchase of Green Power Certificates and its support of the One Tonne Challenge reduce the environmental impacts of its operations and support the development of environmentally friendly energy sources in B.C.

Contact us

Find out how Power Smart can energize your bottom line. Call us today at 604 453 6400 in the Lower Mainland or 1 866 453 6400 elsewhere in B.C.