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https://www.trusd.net/Departments/General-Services/Maintenance-and-Operations/Resource-Conservation/
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Twin Rivers Unified School District

Resource Conservation

light bulb with plant inside held by child's hands

Program Benefits

  • Studies of RCM programs have shown that in a comprehensive program, 50% of the savings realized come from projects that cost little or no money and that considerable savings can be achieved by making simple behavioral changes to the way we do things day to day.
  • These programs benefit the environment by reducing our demand on water supplies, sewage treatment and landfill use. 
  • Utilities benefit from the reduced demand for power generation and the need to construct new power plants.
  • Taxpayer dollars can be spent more efficiently on items such as instructional materials, site improvements and other capital projects.

RCM Programs

  • Are a coordinated team effort to manage resources and services used and the waste generated by our facilities. The team is comprised of members from the entire school community including administrators, teachers, students, facilities and maintenance staff and the program manager. 
  • Involve careful tracking of resource usage and costs not only through the use of computer software but by performing periodic surveys of each facility to measure the program's effectiveness.
  • Focus on occupant comfort, cost effectiveness and assuring that equipment is used only when needed. Conserving resources doesn't mean having to work or learn in an undesirable environment. It's simply a means of controlling the operating costs of our facilities and doing things a little smarter than we have in the past.
The concept and use of Resource Conservation Management (RCM) programs began in the Pacific Northwest nearly 40 years ago. Since then, comprehensive programs have been implemented around the globe. 
engery conversation

engery conversation

Tips

  • Keep doors and windows closed while heating and cooling. 
  • Don't leave doors open between interior spaces where conditioned air can migrate into other spaces where it's not needed.
  • Close shades or blinds on the sunny side of your building to reduce solar heat gain during hot weather. Open them up during the cold months, but be sure to close them at the end of the day to reduce heat loss at night. 
  • Wear clothing that is appropriate for the task and the season.
  • Keep thermostat settings at 78 or warmer for cooling and 68 or cooler for heating. Both provide a good level of comfort and substantial energy savings.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning)

  • Leaving doors and windows open while the HVAC system is running causes the equipment to work less efficiently by its having to condition the added outside air. The result is longer running times and shortened equipment life.
  • Turning your thermostat to extreme settings does not make the space heat up for cool down any faster. The HVAC system cannot be "throttled" up or down with the thermostat. 
  • The air inside the classroom is many times cleaner than the air outside.

Tips

  • Turn lights off every time you leave a room even if just for a few minutes.
  • Take advantage of natural daylight whenever possible and turn off unnecessary lighting.
  • Use task lighting to directly illuminate work areas and turn off non-essential room lighting. (This means a small desk or table lamp, not a stand-up torchiere type).

Lighting

  • Turning off non-essential lighting, even for just a few minutes, saves more energy than leaving them on. New technology fluorescent lighting does not require a "warm up" period to reach full brightness.
  • Lamp and switch life are not significantly affected by increased on/off cycling.
  • In most schools, lighting is the largest energy user, consuming 38 to 54% of total classroom energy.
  • Turning the lights off in one classroom for one hour during the school day can save up to $36/year/classroom in electricity alone.

Energy Use Facts and Tips

Although the information here applies to typical school operations and equipment, many of these facts and tips can apply to any work or home environment.