Going Green: How A Collaboration Between Education and Business Created an Innovative Program Linking M&O Savings and Student Achievement

Dr. Greg Wyam

Going Green:  How A Collaboration Between Education and Business Created an Innovative Program Linking M&O Savings and Student Achievement

Tempe Union High School District selected Chevron Energy Solutions to design, engineer and implement a comprehensive program of facility upgrades and sustainability curriculum enhancement. A significant component of its Innovative Energy Solutions and Sustainability Project, the program is designed to help schools cut energy costs and expand science education. It will accomplish these objectives through energy infrastructure improvements and an Envision™ program that incorporates teacher training, curriculum support, and real-world “Living Laboratories” with science studies and facilities management.

Through an RFP process, the district developed an energy services contract (ESCO) that focused on four areas of impact:  

• Conservation Measures:  The district utilized the traditional ESCO concept, through the RFP process with Chevron being selected as the partner.  Some of the energy conservation methods implemented include window tinting, upgrade chillers, and install energy management systems.  Living Laboratories, developed at each campus will provide students with hands-on learning tools that address important environmental issues facing today’s world.
• Telemetry System:  This is what connects the physical spaces to classroom learning and is the bridge of information that takes utility data and creates an interface for use by employees and students.  This online dashboard is state-of-the-art technology that pulls in data and is viewed by facility managers, students, and teachers in the classroom.  Facility managers use the data for energy audits and to help save energy, and teachers and students use the tools to help develop 21st Century skills in the STEM areas.
• Behavioral Resource Conservation:  With savings earned through this program, Tempe Union hired an energy coach to guide the district and to help employees and students change behaviors to drive energy consumption/conservation.  The district created action plans, awareness programs for students, campus energy teams, sustainability PLC’s, and more to develop energy conservation sustainability while providing students the opportunity to develop real-life skills using data and learning resources to help mold them into top-notch 21st Century learners.
• Curriculum Enhancement:  This is thought of as the final destination.  Teachers utilize all of the tools and technological resources to increase student engagement, develop skills amongst students, and help develop students with higher-level STEM knowledge.   

In one-year’s time, Tempe Union has seen a 25.1% reduction in electrical consumption, and realized a savings of $1,509,662 in electrical costs.  The savings from the program are designed to offset rate hikes in the future with the ultimate goal of not incurring any energy rate hikes within the next decade.

For more information on Tempe Union’s program, contact Dr. Greg Wyman, Associate Superintendent for District Operations, or Jessica Hauer, TUHSD’s Envision Energy Coach.

ASPRA Reporter, Linda Jeffries, Alhambra Elementary School District