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District Energy Use

Linn-Mar is a growing school district. Making facilities more energy efficient as new buildings and additions are completed is critical. Weather and utility rates also affect the energy costs the district must pay. “A penny saved is a penny earned,” is just as true with energy costs. Money saved can be used elsewhere to educate students. By tracking energy usage and auditing the way Linn-Mar uses energy, these efficiencies can be realized.

Facility Square Footage

FY2009 – 991,857; FY2010 – 997,857; FY2011 thru 2013 – 1,070,325; FY2014- 1,110,559; FY2015 – 1,122,988; FY2016 1,078,955; FY2017 – 1,127,585

Energy Usage

Natural Gas (Therms): FY2009 – 367,661; FY2010 – 319,619; FY2011 – 288,754; FY2012 – 270,102; FY2013 – 305,370; FY2014 – 365,997; FY2015 – 345,103; FY2016 – 321,737

Electricity (kWh): FY2009 – 12,411,496; FY2010 – 12,203,696; FY2011 – 13,423,956; FY2012 – 13,309,495; FY2013 – 13,301,903; FY2014 – 14,296,371; FY2015 – 14,246,926;
FY2016 – 13,164,958

 

Weather

Weather is measured in degree days in order to compare one season to another. Simply Heating Degree Days approximate the average temperature for the day subtracted from 65 degrees when heating is required. An average temperature of 30 would record 35 degree days. Likewise, Cooling Degree Days take the average temperature and subtract 70 degrees when cooling is required from it. If the average temperature is 85 there are 15 degree days recorded. Below are the degrees days recorded for the last several fiscal years:

Heating Degree Days

FY2009 – 7190; FY2010 – 6794; FY2011 – 7035; FY2012 – 5569; FY2013 – 6990; FY2014 – 7832; FY2015 – 7037; FY2016 – 5726

Cooling Degree Days

FY2009 – 642: FY2010 – 566; FY2011 – 849; FY2012 – 1023; FY2013 – 966; FY2014 – 903; FY2015 – 612; FY2016 – 834

Normal for Cedar Rapids/Marion is 6500 Heating Degrees and 900 Cooling Degree Days.

Programs

  • Adopted school energy policy 902.3
  • Energy Audit – Alliant through Michaels Engineering, Level 1 and Level 2
  • Adopt best practices guidelines.
  • Track energy usage of major facilities
  • Establish Energy Resource Management and Acquisition Committee (ERMA)
  • Establish ERMA representatives from various facilities
  • Monitor interruptible electricity contract
  • Monitor gas transport contract

Equipment

Energy management systems control and monitor building temperature set points.