• Download this document

The official policy of the Manchester School District is to conserve energy where possible and to take a leadership role in developing a realistic energy ethic and awareness of energy needs and costs.

The Superintendent shall establish and implement regulations which will address the following:

1. Reduce energy consumption in all buildings.

2. Implement low cost or no cost operation and maintenance procedures to ensure more efficient equipment operation.

3. Continue to work with the City to monitor energy consumption and energy conservation in all buildings.

4. Establish and communicate energy conservation guidelines to all students and staff.

5. Every student and employee shall use his or her best efforts to comply with the District’s energy conservation policy and guidelines.

6. Building administrators shall judiciously monitor energy use and maintain an efficient energy posture on a daily basis.

7. In collaboration with the City, maintain records of energy consumption and the cost of energy and provide this information to the building administrators.

8. Monitor the progress of energy consumption and report to the Board of School Committee.

This policy was adapted from the policy developed by the Christina School District, Wilmington, Delaware.

FACILITIES ENERGY POLICY REGULATIONS

The management of all energy used (oil, natural gas, propane) is the responsibility of every employee of the Manchester School District.

Responsibility

1. Responsibility for developing an “Energy Conservation Ethic” within Manchester School District shall rest with all employees, students, and patrons.

2. The building principal shall be responsible for the total energy usage of his/her building and shall engage in energy audits periodically.

3. The primary occupant of a given space shall be responsible, within that space, to implement energy conservation measures.

4. The custodian shall be responsible for control of common areas, i.e. halls, cafeteria. He/she shall verify that non-occupied shutdown procedures are followed. The head custodian at each school shall be responsible for assuring that the campus/facility is shut down each evening.

5. The Administration shall collaborate with the Facilities Division of the City to perform routine audits of all facilities and communicates the audit results and recommendations to the appropriate personnel.

A.   Lighting

1. All lights shall be turned off in any area which will be unoccupied for a period in excess of fifteen (15) minutes except for corridors, stairwells, and at exits as required by code.

2. All lights shall be shut off or reduced (if multiple banks of lights exist) whenever adequate natural day lighting can be utilized.

3. Decorative lighting shall not be permitted.

4. All outside lighting shall be turned off during daylight hours.

5. Gym lights shall be on only when the gym is being utilized.

B.   Temperature Control

1. Heating season temperatures of 68 degrees shall be maintained in all classrooms and offices during occupied hours and 63 degrees during unoccupied hours.  Cooling season temperatures shall be 78 degrees during occupied hours and 87 degrees during unoccupied hours (only applicable to air conditioned spaces).  Special consideration shall be given to certain preschool and special education classrooms where required.

2. Personnel shall not obstruct ventilation ducts or return air grills with books, shelves, charts, furniture, plants or anything else.

3. Personnel shall not obstruct hot water radiation with books, shelves, charts, furniture, plants or any other items.

4. All windows and doors shall be kept closed during the heating season or when air-conditioning units (refrigerated) are in operation.

5. If extreme room temperatures exist, for example less than 64°F or greater than 82°F during the heating season, the Principal shall report the situation to the Facilities Division in a timely manner.

6. Without exception, windows shall be closed and latched by faculty at the conclusion of the day.

7. Entrances and exits to all buildings shall be limited where possible in their use to minimize heat loss.

8. The Principal shall report broken windows, doors, etc. to the Facilities Division in a timely manner.

9. Unauthorized personnel or students found tampering with temperature regulating devices such as thermostats or valves shall be subject to disciplinary action.

10. Portable space heaters of any kind are prohibited within School District facilities.

11. Employees and students shall be encouraged to have sweaters, sweatshirts or similar clothing available when it is apparent the temperatures contained within this policy may cause personal discomfort.

12. Classroom doors shall remain closed when HVAC systems are operating. Staff shall ensure doors between heated/air-conditioned spaces and non-heated/non-air-conditioned spaces remain closed at all times.

C.   Scheduling

1. Small group activities shall not be scheduled in large areas such as auditoriums and gymnasiums. Use of such areas shall be coordinated with School Administration to enable reduced lighting, heating or cooling during periods of non-use.

2. At the end of the school or office day, all windows shall be closed; the blinds or shades shall be drawn to approximately 3/4 the distance from the top of the window to the window sill and the lights turned off. Cleaning staff shall turn lights on only for the period when a specific area is being cleaned.

3. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems shall not be operated during nights, weekends, school vacations or summer breaks unless scheduled in advance through school administration.  A schedule for each school delineating areas to be served along with the times for occupancy shall be published, and scheduled through the Energy Management System.

4. Hours of operation for HVAC systems shall be as follows:

   1. Elementary Schools; 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

   2. Middle Schools; 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

   3. High Schools; 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM

5. Heating systems shall be enabled one hour prior to the times shown above and when the outside air temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. (Mid October thru Late May) The heating system is disabled before and after these dates.

Ventilation systems shall only operate during the prescribed times noted above.

D.   Information Technology

1. Computers and monitors shall be shut down at the end of each day.

2. PC(s) and monitor(s) shall be programmed for the “energy saver” mode after 10 minutes of inactivity.

E.   Other

1. All appliances (refrigerators, VCRs, TVs, etc.) shall be unplugged when not in use.

2. After-hours use of facilities shall be consolidated.

3. Scheduling of facilities rented shall be tailored to the size of the group.

4. Appropriate energy charges, which are commensurate with cost, shall be established for after-hours rental of facilities.

Summer Energy Policy

All vending machines shall be unplugged and food that will spoil shall be removed. All refrigerators and other appliances which will not be in use shall be unplugged.

Revised from 10/14/08

First Reading Coordination Committee:  10/10/12

Second Reading and Adoption by BOSC:  11/13/12