Principals, our Facility Services department could use your help by encouraging your staff to reduce our excessive energy usage this summer. Facility Services administration has recently performed an audit of the portable buildings throughout the District. It was discovered that 8 out of 10 portables were unoccupied, had lights on and air-conditioning running during the first week of July.
Please work directly with your custodians and other staff members to ensure that everyone is doing their part. The following directives are designed to reduce excessive energy usage as temperature continues to soar above 100 degrees.
- AC needs to be turned off in all the portables and should remain off unless in use.
- Adjust thermostats: For portables that are being used occasionally, set the thermostat to 85 degrees for periods when unoccupied.
- Reduce your lighting: Turn off lights in unoccupied areas that are not needed for security and safety.
- Office equipment: Setting computers, monitors, and copiers to sleep-mode can reduce energy use by 40%.
- Windows and Doors: Use curtains and shades when the portables are not in use. Keeping doors and windows closed and locked will help reduce inside temperatures and security problems.
- Concerns about heat damage to supplies or equipment: Smaller items like crayons, or ink cartridges, can be relocated inside the building or stored in styrofoam coolers. Larger items like musical instruments should be relocated inside the school building. Computers are okay to remain in an unairconditioned portables as long as they are powered off.
Thank you for your help
Steve Peart
Director of Custodial / Energy Services