With rising student populations and tighter budgets, schools are tasked with finding ways to save money while improving the well-being of students. One way for school administrators to improve on the economic, educational, and environmental aspects of their school is through energy efficiency. It’s never been more important to be energy-efficient than it is right now. And where better to teach how to save energy than in schools?
There are more benefits of energy efficiency in schools than we can write out on a chalkboard, but here are just a few of the reasons why your school must be more energy efficient.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In science class, we all learned how vital our natural resources are and the impact that consumption of those resources like fossil fuels can have on the environment. A more energy-efficient school limits the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability is a growing focus for schools. Utilizing energy-efficient equipment in all areas of the school can promote resource conservation. Take wastewater for instance. Switching to an energy-efficient dishwasher in the staff breakroom or self-timing faucets in the locker room are just a few of the many ways a school can reduce its environmental impact.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
What if we told you that there was a way to go from a B to an A on that algebra test? Studies show that natural light in classrooms helped students progress 20% faster on math tests and 26% faster on reading tests than students who were not exposed to natural light. School buildings designed with light exposure in mind not only save on the cost of extra lighting, but benefit from higher test scores and better comprehension. Schools guided by green building certifications, like LEED, are becoming more prominent as the number of green schools continues to grow.
REDUCED COSTS
According to the Department of Energy, K-12 schools spend roughly $8 billion each year on energy. About $2 billion can be saved by improving energy efficiency in those schools. To put that in perspective, that’s about 40 MILLION new textbooks! That same study reveals that schools pay on average about $130 per student on electricity each year. By incorporating energy-efficient equipment, schools can save on energy costs and invest that money back into programs that directly benefit both the students and the teachers.
One way to cut down on school energy costs is through smarter, more energy-efficient school refrigeration. With the Eco-Smart system, refrigeration energy costs can be cut in half, all while reducing food spoilage and icing risks in the process. As a result, cafeterias and kitchens can run smoother and more efficiently, all while saving the school money in the process.