Energy Savings

While savings will vary based on local energy costs and an individual school’s consumption patterns, the potential savings resulting from implementation of the Green Schools Program can be significant. Schools can dramatically reduce energy costs even before building retrofits are installed. Simple changes in energy use behavior and building operations—such as taking advantage of daylight where available, adjusting thermostats, and minimizing equipment run times can result in energy savings up to 25%.

As an added incentive, school districts participating in the Green Schools Program agree to return a portion of the savings from the no-cost behavior and operations changes back to the schools that earned them. The remainder of the savings stays with the district.

The following chart presents the energy savings achieved by 29 Green Schools in Northern California over the period November 2004 to June 2005: