Jerome School District, ID — 50001 Ready Project Sites

Solution Overview

 

Location
Jerome

Background

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The Jerome School District is a public school district in south-central Idaho. It includes Jerome High School, Jerome Middle School, Horizon Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, and Summit Elementary School, along with an administrative building that also houses an alternative high school program. Some of these facilities were built as early as 1952, while others were built as late as 2007.  These schools serve a diverse student body of more than 4,100 students and represent a long-term investment on the part of the district.

Solutions

In 2017, Jerome School District joined other Idaho school districts in a partnership led by Idaho Power and the Strategic Energy Group (SEG) to pursue Continuous Energy Improvement. While the team was initially hesitant about the additional responsibilities associated with the program, working as part of a cohort with other school districts helped them see the benefits of the Continuous Energy Improvement process. In 2019, SEG showed the cohort how their efforts fit into the larger 50001 Ready framework for continuous improvement in energy management—and could qualify them for U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognition. Jerome High School achieved ISO 50001 Ready status in April 2019 and again in October 2020. The remaining four schools and the Jerome School District office met all requirements by January 2021.

“Participating in the Continuous Energy Program helped maximize the district’s limited resources.  The 50001 Ready framework gives the district the foundation to continue to efficiently manage our energy usage.” 

— Brian Bridwell, Business Manager, Jerome School District 

Jerome School District has saved approximately $157,731 off of their power bill since January 2017 with a net of capital savings of $91,320. These savings were put toward further improvements in their buildings, such as new HVAC equipment and lowered ceilings to improve heating efficiency. Overall, the savings have helped demonstrate the District’s commitment to making responsible and efficient use of public funds.

Implementing a 50001 Ready Energy Management System

  • Real Energy Savings: Jerome School District had set an initial energy savings goal of 5% each year. The District achieved a 5.71% net of capital savings. The amount of energy saved and the associated cost savings convinced the District to stay involved in the Continuous Energy Improvement program.
  • Energy Management Team: Jerome School District nominated their maintenance supervisor to serve as their Energy Champion. In this role, he was responsible for instructing facility maintenance and custodial staff in energy-saving practices and for supervising the automated HVAC controls that adjust system settings for the buildings. The District also tapped their curriculum director to serve as Awareness Champion, responsible for encouraging staff and students to participate in the District’s latest energy-saving efforts.
  • Capital Investment: The major capital investments included an expansion and remodel of the high school, a state-of-the-art HVAC system, a lighting retrofit for the high school’s Ag Shop, and two major roofing upgrades. Idaho Power provided over $100,000 in incentives to help the Jerome School District purchase and install these upgrades.
  • Big Savers: The school district trained staff members on how to use the automated controls to run their HVAC installations more efficiently while keeping students and staff comfortable. In addition, the district trained teachers and maintenance staff to take a proactive stance in shutting off lights in unoccupied rooms.
  • Lasting Change: With DOE’s 50001 Ready Navigator tool, administrators could see how their efforts saved energy and money. That made it easier for staff to stay motivated and maintain their new, energy-saving habits.  

Key Takeaways

The 50001 Ready Navigator tool helped the staff of the Jerome School District better understand energy use in their schools and how modest changes in their practices can increase savings. The ability to readily see their energy and cost savings motivated school district employees to continue in the program, and the District is pleased to show taxpayers that their money is being used responsibly.