~ Thank You and Farewell ~

Thank you to the wonderful staff and terrific students throughout the Robbinsdale Area School District for welcoming me into your classrooms and buildings; first through the SEE (Schools for Energy Efficiency) program for four years and then these past two years with an independent GREEN Initiative (Getting Robbinsdale Energy Efficient Now).

Please continue to be good stewards of our energy resources and keep modeling energy efficient behavior wherever you go. It has been a pleasure to serve you these past six years. I will leave you with a quote from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, which is more timely than ever.

Final Energy Insight

As this blog comes to a close, here is an old favorite...

Today's Energy Insight

The average lifespan for a LED light bulb is up to how many hours???

A) 1,200 hours

B) 20,000 hours

C) 150,000 hours

D) 500,000 hours


Scroll down to check your answer...

According to Xcel Energy, the correct answer is D, a whopping 500,000 hours!
And remember, LED bulbs use even less energy than CFL bulbs.

U.S. Energy Consumption

Residential

Industrial

Commercial

Transportation

In the United States, which of these consumes the highest amount of energy at 30.8% and which consumes the least of the four at 18.6%?

Scroll down to check your answer...

According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. energy consumption by sector breaks down as follows:

30.8%  Industrial

28.1%  Transportation

22.6%  Residential

18.6%  Commercial

Today's Energy Insight

Using recycled aluminum scrap to make aluminum cans uses how much less energy than making new aluminum cans from scratch?

25%     48%     79%     95%

Scroll down to check your answer...

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, using recycled aluminum to make cans uses 95 percent less energy than making new ones from bauxite ore, the raw material used to make aluminum.  Recycling can make a difference with regard to inputs for other manufacturing processes, as well. Making a ton of paper from recycled paper, for instance, saves up to 17 trees and uses 50 percent less water.

Today's Energy Insight

It's that time of year again, time to bust the myth about running fans in the summer.

In a recent article on the website Off the Grid News, several energy myths were listed and busted. One in particular stood out because some people I know (one of my sons specifically) will leave fans running in unoccupied areas ALL the time.

MYTH: Leaving fans on in summer when you leave the house is a good way to keep rooms cool. After all, if you allow your home to heat up while you are away, you will have to use extra energy to cool it down again once you return.


This is not true – fans move the air, but they don’t really cool it, and leaving them on when no one is around is a waste of energy and money. There are a few exceptions like when controlling humidity during the summer by drawing cool air from an underground area to prevent mold.

Today's Energy Idea

Here's a bright idea for you to consider...

By replacing your five most frequently used light bulbs with models that have earned the ENERGY STAR label, you can save more than $60 a year in energy costs. Just imagine the savings if you swapped out most or ALL of your light bulbs for energy efficient ones!
Additionally, if every home in America changed their five most frequently used light bulbs with those that have earned the ENERGY STAR label, we would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than eight million cars. Wow, that is eliminating a lot of pollutants! Check out the huge variety of LED bulbs available at your local hardware store, so many options!

Today's Energy Insight

Did you know our schools are billed twice for our electricity use? Well, technically there are two components to our school’s electricity bill - the energy charge and the demand charge. The bills we see at our homes have the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity used, but schools and other commercial buildings are also charged for their peak demand load.

Here is how electric energy is billed for a school:
1. Energy Charge (use over time): Electricity is typically metered at each school facility to determine the amount of kilowatt hours used. This meter is read each month and the difference in the readings accounts for the total consumption; school are billed accordingly.

2. Demand Charge (use at one point in time): Utility companies look at the highest peak of electric use during the month. For example, during the month of December, the total peak demand will be measured every fifteen minutes and charted on a graph. The highest electric load during the month is what the utility will bill for demand. So in other words, if one day out of the month you have everything powered to full blast, that’s the day you’ll be charged for all month.

Why does a utility company have this charge?
Electricity-consuming equipment in a school determines the school’s demand for electricity. As electric use fluctuates during the day and during various seasons, it creates unknown electric load demands for a utility company. In order to accommodate for this, the utility company needs to know the maximum amount of electricity required to provide to their customers.

How can schools help reduce this electricity charge?
Focus on reducing energy use from 11am – 2pm, since that is when occupancy and energy use are highest. In fact, lunch hour is typically the most energy-intense time of the day in a school. Building engineers are trained on how to schedule their large equipment to lower their peak demand load. It is important to understand this concept in case you do play a role in a strategy to reduce these demands costs.

It's the Final Countdown...

At the end of this month, the current energy awareness and educational campaign for Robbinsdale Area Schools will be coming to a close. After six successful years, the approximate savings realized throughout the district are close to 3/4 of a million dollars! This estimate does not include all the savings through the UNESCO projects that included lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades and more.

With the absence of the campaign materials out in the buildings, no more educational activities in the classrooms and the end of these blog posts, it is going to be up to YOU to remind yourself to be vigilant about being energy conscious so the district can run as efficiently as possible.
Remember saved energy = money saved!

Think GREEN ~ Getting Robbinsdale Energy Efficient Now!

School's Out for Summer!

It's that time of year again. Buildings are empty of students and most staff. There are many opportunities to save energy during June, July and August. Please make sure to do the following to keep our buildings operating efficiently throughout the summer months:

• Close blinds and drapes.
• Keep vents clear of books and boxes.
• Turn off monitors, printers, speakers, smart boards, etc.
• Turn off and unplug all miscellaneous electronics.
• Consolidate refrigerators in staff lounges; turn off, clean and prop open all but one.
• Empty, turn off, clean and prop open refrigerators in FACS rooms and science labs.
• Be aware of any opportunities to save energy during the unoccupied months.

Today's Energy Insight

A Little Peer Pressure Can Be a Good Thing!

By definition, peer pressure is “influence from members of one's peer group.” That said, how about influencing your peers by being a model of energy efficiency? When you see someone practicing energy efficient habits, it can be contagious!

Thanks for being energy smart and putting a bit of pressure on your peers to do the same! A little teamwork goes a long way!

Today's Energy Insight

Bring on the Heat!

Just a little over a month ago, we were dealing with a blizzard and over Memorial weekend we had temps of 100+ degrees! Now that summer temps have arrived, here are some ways to save energy during hot weather...

Using ceiling fans to circulate air will make you feel cooler and possibly allow you to raise the temperature setting on your AC thermostat by a few degrees. But be sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room, because fans cool people, not space.

Shift energy-intensive household chores such as laundry and dishwashing to off-peak hours – nights, mornings, weekends – when there is less strain on the power grid, and operate these units with full loads to get the most for your energy dollars.

Plug energy leaks with weather stripping and caulking and be sure your house is properly insulated to save up to 20 percent on cooling (and winter heating) bills.

Today's Energy Insight

Now that warm summer weather has decided to stick around for a while, here are just a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to operating your air conditioner more efficiently:

• Get a tune up. Have your AC tuned up by a qualified heating contractor every other year. This will help it operate more efficiently and may prevent failures in the middle of peak cooling season.
• Keep the condenser and filter clean. Keep leaves, grass and other debris away from the outside condenser. Also, clean the filter monthly and replace it as needed. A clean condenser and filter help the unit run more efficiently.
• Keep vents clear. Make sure furniture and drapes are not blocking air vents. This allows the cool air to move out into the rooms and keeps your air conditioner from running more than necessary.
• Turn up the thermostat setting. When home, set it a couple of degrees higher. Before you head out, move the setting even higher, about 78 to 80 degrees. Cooling the house back down a few degrees when you return costs less than keeping it cool while you are gone.
• Keep thermostats clear of heat. Don’t place heat-producing devices such as computers or TVs near your thermostat. Heat from these could cause the thermostat to read a higher temp leading to excessive cooling and wasted energy.

Today's Energy Insight

Whether you have a traditional, tropical or funky ceiling fan overhead, it still needs to be spinning in a counter-clockwise direction during the summer cooling months. And be sure to turn your ceiling fan off in unoccupied rooms because fans cool people, not the air. It's similar to a wind-chill effect. Be energy smart and don't let fans run all day in unoccupied areas.

Today's Energy Insight

The GREENEST POWER is the power you don't have to produce!

It's really quite simple if you think about it. The most efficient energy available to us today is the energy we don't have to produce in the first place.

Today's Energy Insight

According to the American Solar Energy Society, enough sunlight falls on the earth's surface each minute to meet the world energy demand for how long?

A)  24 hours            B)  8 weeks

C)  6 months           D)  an entire year

Scroll down to check your answer...






































































The correct answer is D) an entire year! Wow! Who knew?

Today's Energy Insight

Did you know when you save energy anywhere in the district you are saving money??? Money that would have been spent on energy (i.e. utilities like gas and electric) is then able to be spent on other expenses throughout the district. Saving energy stretches our district dollars further so when you flip that switch, adjust the thermostat or power down those electronics like computers, you are being a good steward of our financial resources AND a responsible steward of our earth's natural resources.

Keep up the good work and keep stretching those dollars!

Today's Energy Insight

The EPA estimates that 80% of these and 70% of these
used in offices are left on overnight.


A)  Fax machines and radios

B) Task lights and computer monitors

C) Printers and copy machines

D) Coffee pots and lava lamps


Scroll down to check your answer...

All of these items are left on at various times but 80% of printers and 70% of copiers are left on in offices resulting in lost energy. If you are the last one in your area, please be sure these items are shut off for the night. Also, try to get in the habit of using the energy saver button found on most copy machines. Every little effort, no matter how small, does make a difference, thanks for doing your part! Oh, and C is the correct answer.

Clear the Clutter!

Spring has finally sprung and as thoughts turn to spring cleaning keep in mind it can apply to both your home
and your classroom or work space.

Keeping vents free of boxes, books, files and other air blocking items can really save energy. It takes 25% more energy to pump air into your space if vents are blocked.

Earth Day

Enjoy a short, fun video about Earth Day...

It's Earth Month!

It's April! Never mind the 9 inches of fresh snow and the below freezing temps outside, the calendar says April and that means it's Earth Month. But what exactly does that mean? In April the following annual environmentally focused days of awareness and recognition are celebrated:

• National Walk to Work Day, First Friday in April
• Arbor Day, Last Friday of April
• No Electronics Day, April 6
• Earth Day, April 22
• Garden Week, Second week in April

April is also considered Make America Beautiful Month. More posts on Earth Month and Earth Day and Month activities to come, stay tuned...

Today's Energy Insight

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the hours of operation in an office or school are typically only 30% of the total hours in a year when you take nights and weekends into account. Shutting off many types of equipment during unoccupied hours can save up to 70% of their electrical consumption. Be sure to turn off your lights and power down your electronics at the end of the day. AND be sure printers and copiers are shut down on Friday afternoons!

Spring Break!

The long anticipated (by both students and staff) spring break is just around the corner. As we get ready to head into an extended break when many of the buildings in the district are unoccupied, it is a great time to save some energy by shutting down or turning off any plug loads in your area, office or classroom.

Be sure to:
Power down computer monitors and speakers.
Shut off printers and copiers.
Close window blinds and shades.
Unplug charging stations.

Have a fun, safe and

energy efficient Spring Break!

Today's Energy Insight

We need energy to light our offices and classrooms, power our computers and smart boards and of course, cook our lunches. Our goal is to eliminate wasted energy - the stuff that's on when we are not in the room.

And you can't always depend on the motion sensor switches; get in the habit of turning off the lights every time you leave an empty room or unoccupied area. Even if you think you'll 'BRB' (be right back) because sometimes you get sidetracked or step out longer than intended.

Today's Energy Insight

Thousands of Opportunities to Save Energy!

With over 12,000 students and more than 2,200 employees in our district, one flip of a switch does make a difference. If just ONCE per day, 25% of the district staff remembers to turn off lights in an unoccupied area, that's 550 times a day energy is being conserved. If 10% of the students remember just ONCE a day to turn off a computer monitor, that's 220 times a day monitors are being powered down. Now multiply those numbers by 5 and in one week alone, there are literally THOUSANDS of opportunities to save energy if just a fraction of the students and staff turn off a light or shut off a monitor.

All our small efforts do add up to make a big difference!

It’s a Great Day to Save Energy in Robbinsdale Area Schools!

Today's Energy Insight

The Greenest Cities
Across the Globe

• Copenhagen, Denmark has more people biking rather than driving so it is easy to see their focus is on reaching their carbon neutral goals.
• Curitiba, Brazil has eco-city initiatives started long ago with a goal making it literally the ‘greenest’ city in the world (city has a current total of 52 m² of green space).
• Oslo, Norway has a focus on renewable energy and is a leading city in electric car use with special incentives for eco-drivers.
• San Francisco, California has a strict recycling program including pay-as-you-throw on non-recyclable garbage. San Fransisco is the greenest city in the US and has a goal of zero-waste by 2020.
• Stockholm, Sweden has been aiming to reduce car use by offering green transportation alternatives. A congestion tax started in 2007 is raising money towards improving the environment.
• Singapore City, Singapore has building requirements that ensures all buildings are green throughout.
• Vancouver, Canada launched the Greenest City Action Plan in 2011, focusing on reducing emissions and waste, while increasing a green economy. Their goal is to be a completely renewable city by 2050.
• Vienna, Austria knows how to use water efficiently. They use water to generate electricity. Wastewater from the city is treated and purified before being released back to nature.

Today's Energy Insight

Did you know there are ways to do recycling wrong? Non-recyclable materials can force recycling plants to more or less shut down their operations while they fish the garbage out of their machinery. Here are five materials often mis-recycled. Watch out for them!

Pizza boxes ~ the grease absorbed by cardboard boxes affects the process of making cardboard into
new materials.

Saran wrap ~ plastic wrap can jam machinery used to recycle the more rigid plastic containers.

Batteries ~ household batteries today can be thrown in the trash because they do not have as much mercury as batteries manufactured before 1997 when the mandates to phase out mercury were passed.

Shredded paper ~ is too small to sort, the pieces literally fall through the cracks of the sorting machines and end up all over the floor of the facility, or worse, in with the glass.

Plastic lids ~ while an increasing number of plastics are now recyclable (you should still check the number on the bottom against your local program rules) most plastic caps are NOT recyclable and are a significant contaminant.

Month by Month

A recent article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press (originally published in the Washington Post) has a great break down of what to do month by month to keep your home running efficiently. For the month of February it recommends you clean the baseboards and vents throughout the house. It also calls for cleaning the light fixtures in the living room and dining room.

The article is entitled "How to Keep Your House Running Smoothly Month by Month." To read the entire post and see what is recommended for the other 11 months of the year, CLICK HERE.

Today's Energy Insight

Which of the following uses the most electricity in your home?

• refrigerator
• heating and cooling system
• water heater
• video game console

Scroll down to check your answer...

Furnaces and air conditioners account for approximately 40% of your home's utility use, followed by water heaters with 11-15% and refrigerators with 7-10%. Video game consoles use  the smallest percentage of the items listed however they are considered energy vampires, using as much as 16 billion kilowatt-hours nationwide every year.

Today's Energy Insight

Beware the Dust Bunny!

When dusting in your office or home, don't forget about light bulbs and fixtures. Dust can absorb up to 50% of emitted light making it necessary to turn on more lights than actually needed. Dusty furnace or A/C filters, refrigerator coils or vents can all add up to more energy use as well. Even dust on electronics can force their fans and motors to run harder eating up more electricity. So the insight today is simple: clean, dust-free lights, furnace filters and electronics = less energy use thus money saved! Yay!

Today's Energy Insight

More Energy Myth Busting!

Myth: Ceiling fans should only be used in the cooling months, not during the heating season.

FACT: Ceiling fans are a great way to cool down in the heat of the summer, but can also be used in the winter to circulate warm air. Warm air rises, and most fans have a switch to reverse the direction the blades spin. In the heating season, fan blades should rotate in a clockwise direction to push the warm air collected on the ceiling down to the rest of the room. Remember to have the blades spin in a counter-clockwise direction in the summer.

Today's Energy Insight

Renewable Energy is any energy derived from natural processes, such as sunlight, water or wind. These resources are replenished faster than they are consumed, hence "renewable". The following fun facts about renewable energy highlight its growth, efficiency, and effectiveness:

• Renewable Energy creates three-times more jobs than fossil fuels.
• One wind turbine generates enough electricity to power up to 1,400 households.
• If taken advantage of to its fullest extent, sunlight that beams on the earth for one hour could meet world energy demands for an entire year.
• The largest wind turbine in the world, located in Hawaii, stands 20 stories tall and has blades the length of a football field.
• Silicon, the major component of a solar cell, is the 2nd most abundant element in the Earth’s crust (about 28% by mass) after oxygen.

Happy New Year

Many New Year's resolutions are about being good to yourself. This year why not resolve to be good to the environment?

Ronald Reagan once said, "Every day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace."

As 2018 unfolds before us ripe with new and fresh possibilities, consider adopting an attitude of "every little bit helps."

Even though a single green effort will not solve the world's environmental problems overnight, there is absolutely no harm in trying to make a small impact by embracing greener habits. Resolve to be more energy efficient this year.

Wishing you an Energy Efficient and Sustainable New Year!