Pius X Tools for Schools

(Prepared by John Osterman, Energy Financing Division Chief, Nebraska Energy Office)

In April 1999, the Nebraska Energy Office (Energy Office) was contacted by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 7 office in Kansas City, Kansas, about a grant project in Nebraska which would address both energy efficiency and indoor air quality opportunities in a school building. The project would promote the EPA’s Tools for Schools program and be able to access the expertise of an indoor air quality expert from Kansas State University. The Energy Office considered the various aspects of the project and decided the best candidate would be a private school with a fairly large facility located in or near Lincoln, where a Tools for Schools team could be formed and an in depth study conducted.

The Energy Office contacted the Superintendent, Father Michael Morin, of Pius X Central High School (Pius X) in Lincoln about the potential project. Father Morin expressed an interest in participating and looking at what energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvement opportunities might be available to them. The Energy Office proceeded to write the Narrative Statement, Scope of Work, Proposed Timeline, and Budget for the project and entitled it "Tools for Schools"-An Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality Model (Attachment A). The Proposal was submitted to the EPA’s Regional Office on July 1, 1999. The EPA office approved funding for the grant project in September, 1999, with a start date of October 1, 1999, and completion date of September 30, 2000.

Staff from the Energy Office met with Father Morin and Tom Sieb, Pius X Principal, and Gary Lechner, Pius X Facilities Manager on November 10, 1999. Staff present from the Energy Office was Jack Osterman, Energy Financing Division Chief, Kirk Conger, P.E., Technical Adviser, and Lynn Chamberlin, Architect. The Scope of Work and Timeline for the project were discussed. Father Morin gave the go ahead on forming a Tools for Schools team comprised of administrators, teachers, and students. Team Members would receive a small stipend for their involvement in the project. The Energy Office agreed to contact potential technical partners, such as the Lincoln Electric System, Peoples Natural Gas, the State of Nebraska Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Environmental Quality, and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department. Pius X agreed to make their building plans available for the Energy Office to facilitate the building walk-throughs and to provide energy consumption data.

The agenda was set (Attachment B) and first meeting of the Pius X Tools for Schools team and technical partners was held on December 6, 1999. The Pius X Tools for Schools team was made up of twelve members. In addition to three staff members from the Energy Office, and Bruce Snead, the indoor air quality expert from Kansas State University (KSU), there were four other technical partners represented.

In addition to areas of concern expressed by Pius X Tools for Schools team members at the December 6, 1999, meeting, it was decided to conduct a survey of all Pius X teachers and staff on energy issues, such as heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as any indoor air quality issues. Energy Office staff worked with Molly Goedeker of HHS to design an Environmental Questionnaire for the project (Attachment C). The questionnaires were distributed to Pius X teachers and staff, completed, and results tallied by the end of December, 1999 (Attachments D and E). The Energy Office arranged to pick up a complete set of the building plans during this time period for its review.

With the feedback provided by the questionnaires and the desk top review of the building plans and energy consumption patterns, the Energy Office’s Technical Adviser and Architect, and the indoor air quality expert from KSU began a series of on-site visits of the Pius X facility starting in January, 2000, and running through February, collecting physical information on the building envelope, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, and other energy using equipment such as computers and motors. Pius X Tools for Schools team members and technical partners participated at various times in the on-site visits and data collection. Preliminary work began on analyzing potential energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvement opportunities during February and March.

On April 1, 2000, the Energy Office’s Technical Adviser took a position with the University of Nebraska Lincoln, leaving the Energy Office short of the necessary technical staff to continue. This, coupled with unforeseen circumstances which pulled the KSU indoor air quality expert away from the project at the same time, caused a delay in putting together the preliminary results of the energy audit and indoor air quality assessment. An effort was made in the early part of May, 2000, to pull everything together for a meeting with the Tools for Schools team, but it proved unsuccessful as the end of the school year drew closer and it became more difficult to get everyone together. This led to the project being put on hold for a period of time.

With the likelihood of the successful completion of the grant project by September 30, 2000, the Energy Office sought and received an extension of time from the EPA Region 7 office. The completion date was extended until June 30, 2001.

The Energy Office was able to hire a registered Professional Engineer to fill its Technical Adviser position toward the end of September, 2000, bringing its technical staff back to its previous level.

Then, in February, 2001, with inquiries on the status of the project from school team embers, the Energy Office, the Pius X High School Principal, Tom Sieb, and Bruce Snead from KSU, agreed to move ahead with the project and scheduled a meeting for March 5, 2001, at the school. At that meeting, the work which had been done was reviewed and a time frame was set to complete the scope of work by June 30, 2001. Any work which had been done in the building during the interim was discussed with the facility manager, Gary Lechner. Mr. Sieb agreed to pull the Pius X Tools for Schools team back together and a meeting was scheduled for March 28, 2001. Following the meeting the Energy Office’s Technical Adviser and Architect, and Bruce Snead walked through the building to bring themselves up to date on the changes which had been made in the facility.

The agenda for the March 28, 2001, meeting was set (Attachment F), and meeting held. Three members of the original school team were no longer at the school. A new member was added, putting the school team at 10 members. In addition, representatives for the technical partners involved in the project were in attendance (Attachment G). Another meeting was scheduled for April 18, 2001, to discuss a draft of the action plan which would be presented to Father Morin by the school team based on the information provided to them on the energy efficiency and indoor air quality opportunities identified by the Energy Office staff and Bruce Snead from KSU.

It was noted at the March 28^th meeting that the preliminary results of the energy audit indicated the school did a good job of managing its energy use. The average energy use intensity of the facility was 44,838 Btu/sq. ft., compared to an average use for educational facilities nationwide, which is 75,200 Btu/sq. ft. Given this fact, the opportunities identified by the technical partners would serve to tweak the operation of an already well run facility.

On site visits by Energy Office technical staff, which now included one of the office’s Energy Conservation Program Coordinators, who is a Certified Energy Manager, continued during march and April as opportunities discussed by the school team and technical partners at the March 28^th meeting were looked at more closely.

The agenda for the April 18, 2001, meeting was set (Attachment H) and meeting held. The school team reviewed all the energy efficiency and indoor air quality opportunities identified by the technical partners and agreed to prioritize them in the action plan as Most Important, Important, and Least Important. Another meeting of the school team was scheduled for May 2, 2001, at which time a draft of the action plan would be reviewed and priorities assigned to four opportunities which were to be further analyzed. Any ideas on continuing the school team would be discussed also.

The agenda for the May 2, 2001, meeting was set (Attachment I) and meeting held. Priorities were assigned to the four remaining opportunities and a couple of priorities previously agreed upon were changed based on some updated information. Invitations for the May 18^th seminar were reviewed. It was agreed that the Pius X Student Council would host the seminar and help in mailing the invitations. A final, pre-seminar meeting was scheduled for May 16, 2001, to finalize all the preparations for May 18^th.

On May 3, 2001, invitations were mailed by Pius X to private schools in Lincoln and those within an hour’s drive of Lincoln. The Nebraska Catholic Conference agreed to and mailed invitations to all other Catholic schools in the state.

The agenda for the May 18^th seminar and the final draft of the action plan was completed and sent out to school team members on May 11^th, for their last review.

A final planning meeting for the seminar was held on May 16, 2001 to handle any last minute changes and to set the final agenda.

Pius X Central High School is located at 6000 A Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. The facility consists of four individual structures that house classroom, administrative, athletic, performance and maintenance facilities for the school. The main building houses the majority of the school services provided while the three remaining structures house athletic facilities and are used on a seasonal basis.

As a voluntary partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tools for Schools program the school administration selected a Tools for Schools Team which has worked in conjunction with the Nebraska Department Of Health and Human Services, Lincoln/ Lancaster County Health Department, Kansas State University, Nebraska Energy Office and local utility suppliers to evaluate their facility’s indoor air-quality and energy use. The Team has extensively reviewed the use of the facility, the services provided within the facility, complaints from building occupants regarding indoor air- quality, thermal discomfort, lighting/glare discomfort, current energy use patterns and associated costs and operation and maintenance issues.

This Action Plan is a result of the Team’s research, evaluation and analysis. It was developed for the school administration to use as a planning tool to incorporate the Tools for Schools recommendations into its future building operating strategies. The plan’s recommendations include low-cost operation and maintenance items, as well as capital intensive improvements. The Team’s implementation recommendations and the priority status they assigned each recommendation are as follows:

Complete further study to determine the affects of providing heating and cooling to the southeast classrooms using Air Handling Unit #3.

Turn off pilot lights on the ceiling hung furnaces in the stadium facility when the locker rooms are not used for planned student activities.

Retrofit the school’s existing 4-foot fluorescent fixtures to utilize T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts.

Remove the Practice Gymnasium’s existing 8-foot fluorescent fixtures and revise the current switching to allow the HID fixtures to provide area lighting in five individual banks.

Seal the currently abandoned rooftop exhaust fans and remove them as future roofing projects occur. Complete annual inspections and maintenance on all remaining rooftop exhaust units.

Initiate a school policy requiring all staff to shut "off" all personal computer equipment (excluding network servers) during unoccupied hours.

Combine the General Service Demand electric meters which serve the school building.

Install motion detectors in the locker rooms, restrooms and storage rooms to ensure that the lights are shut off when the rooms are not occupied.

Replace corridor incandescent fixtures with one-lamp, 4-foot fluorescent fixtures that utilize T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts.

This information is believed to be complete and correct. However, since the Tools for Schools Team does not control design and implementation details or the use of the facility and its components, they cannot be responsible for any results or lack of results from building or maintenance changes undertaken following this report.

During the school year the school building operates from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM with provisions being made for evening athletic, drama and scholastic events. Student services include those typically required for high school activities. During the summer the administrative area of the building is utilized from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM with the remaining portion of the building used minimally.

The stadium facility and concession area is used for fall and spring sporting events such as football and track, however signage is provided year-round and lawn sprinkling is provided, as needed, year-round. The number of sporting events held in the facility is limited, which can be seen in the energy use and cost patterns depicted in the Current Energy Use section of this document.

Pius X Central High School uses electricity and natural gas for all of it’s utility needs. Five electric meters and two natural gas meters service the facility.

Two three-phase General Service Demand (GSD) electric meters serve the school building, one is located in the southeast maintenance facility and one is located in the north central corridor mechanical room. The following chart and graph show the school building’s electricity use patterns and the related cost percentages for each of the uses.

Two single-phase General Service (GS) electric meters serve the stadium facility. One meter provides the east stadium lighting, locker facilities, coach’s office, concession stand, field sprinkler system and the stadium signage. The second meter provides the west stadium lighting. The following chart and graph shows the stadium’s electricity use patterns and the related cost percentages for each of the stadium facility electricity uses.

One meter serves the school building’s front signage, front lawn sprinkler system and the walkway lighting. The following graph shows the related cost percentages for each of the uses associated with this meter.

See pages 31, 34 & 35 of this report for cost saving recommendations regarding the facility’s electrical services.

Natural gas is used entirely for space and water heating in all areas of the facility. One of the meters serves the school building and is located near the boiler room the other meter serves the stadium facility. The following charts and graphs show the natural gas use patterns and their associated costs for the school building and the stadium facility.

Analysis of the facility’s overall, average energy costs and use through the 1997-98 to 1999-00 school years indicates an annual Pius X facility energy cost of over $70,500 and an average energy use intensity of 44,838 Btu/sq. ft. Although this is a substantial annual operating cost, based on national data provided by the Energy Information Administration regarding building Energy Intensities, the average use for educational facilities nationwide is 75,200 Btu/sq. ft. This comparison indicates that the staff, administration and students of Pius X Central High School should be commended for operating and maintaining their facility at a standard that limits their energy use to 40% less than, or more efficient, than the national average for facilities of this type.

The Pius X facility consists of four individual structures that house classroom, administrative, athletic, performance and maintenance facilities for the school.

The main building (school building) houses the majority of services provided while the three remaining structures house athletic facilities and are used on a seasonal basis. The school building was constructed in five phases. The phases generally include:

The original building, constructed in 1956, located on the south side of the current facility, housing classrooms, the practice gymnasium, part of the lunch facilities and the locker rooms.

The 1960 addition housing the administrative offices, the central classroom wing, additional locker room areas, the wrestling/weight rooms, additional lunch facilities and the media center.

The 1990 addition housing the north classroom wing, the music room and the chapel.

The majority of the building is a two-story structure with a partial basement that provides lunch facilities, teacher workrooms and some office areas. The Team was unable to determine the actual amount of wall insulation in the structure, however based on the age and type of construction, it is assumed to be minimal. Although increasing the amount of wall insulation would generally reduce energy use and increase occupant comfort, based on the high cost associated with this type of work it has been determined that it is not a cost-effective recommendation at this time.

The majority of the facility has flat roofs finished with ballasted, built-up roofing systems. Although facility personnel were unsure of the exact amount of insulation installed in each roof area, based on the thickness of the system it is assumed that the insulation provides an R-value of between 8 and 12. Although this is considerably less than the requirements of new construction, it is not cost-effective based on energy savings only to increase the insulation amount at this time. However, it is recommended that when the roof sections are replaced in the future, the insulation amount be increased to ensure a minimum of insulation value of R-30.

Exterior walk doors throughout the facility have a variety of types of weather stripping in a variety of conditions. Properly weather-stripped doors can dramatically reduce air infiltration into the building and therefore reduce the associated heating and cooling costs. For a facility of this size, it is recommended that an annual inspection and replacement schedule of door weather-stripping be incorporated into the maintenance schedule to ensure that the door weather-stripping is continually inspected and maintained.

Windows throughout the facility are double paned glazing units with aluminum frames. Although not all of the window frames are thermally broken, allowing some heat loss to occur, similar to the wall insulation project a replacement would reduce energy use and increase occupant comfort. But, based on the costs associated with this type of work it has been determined that it is not cost-effective recommendation at this time.

At the time of the original audit, the heating and cooling were provided by a combination of steam heat, conditioned air, and heat pumps. The steam heat was/is located in the original construction portion of the building, with the exception of the office area. The office area is provided with heating and cooling from heat pumps. The remainder of the building’s heating and cooling is provided by air handling units (AHU’s) which deliver hot or cold conditioned air, and separately controlled heating/cooling fin-tube coils. A boiler and chiller provide heating and cooling to condition the air delivered by the AHU’s and the hot or cold liquid used by the fin-tube coils.

Since the original audit a portion of the steam heat has been replaced in the 150/250 classrooms located between the courtyards. Those classrooms now use separate room units that utilize the heating and cooling capacity of the boiler and chiller. Future plans will remove the remaining steam heat in the 100/200 classroom wing and replace it with conditioned air from one of the AHU’s.

The AHU’s also provide ventilation to the building. Dampers connected to the outside are modulated to allow outside air to be drawn into the AHU’s. The air is then conditioned and delivered to areas of the building serviced by those AHU’s. An equal amount of air is removed from the building by exhaust fans primarily located in the mechanical rooms.

Two separate computers control the AHU’s. One of the computers controls the fin-tube coils in the 150/250 wing and is also intended to be the source of control for the AHU which will replace the remaining steam heat in the 100/200 classroom wing. The other computer controls the boiler, chiller, and current AHU requirements. It is currently understood that there is no communication between these two computers.

There are currently two, and possibly three, areas of concern involving the AHU’s. Those areas are stale air in the Wrestling/Weight Room and a lack of warmth during heating season in the Music Room. A third possible area of concern is in the future plans to replace the existing steam heat in the 100/200 classrooms with heating and cooling from the AHU which currently services the new gym and cafeteria areas. There is also concern about air quality in the Wood Shop during periods of equipment use, which raises a large amount of airborne dust. Other areas of possible concern include a two-computer control system with little or no communication, and staleness of air in the 150/250-classroom wing.

During our Audit of the Wrestling/Weight Room, it was noticed that return air inlet grilles in those rooms where dirty and over 50% blocked. Both supply outlet and return inlet are located in or near the ceiling. The supply outlets are oriented horizontally. The horizontal orientation of the exhaust outlets is not conducive to mixing of air near the floor where air tends to form stagnant pools during the heating season. Air may be short-circuiting from the exhaust outlets to the return air inlets along the ceiling and may also be being pushed out of the rooms due to the blockage noticed on the return air inlet grilles. It is possible that pools of stagnant, motionless, air are forming near the floor, which may be partially responsible, for the staleness found in the rooms.

The return inlet grilles should be cleaned and maintained. Extending the return air inlets along the ceiling to the northwest and northeast corners of the room and down to an area near the floor may help to maintain air movement in these rooms. Ceiling fans or a diffuser (supply outlet) change to a vertical orientation may also aid in air circulation. Cost savings discussed later for the Music Room, with regard to short-circuiting of air and filter (inlet grille) maintenance applies to the Wrestling Room.

In the Music Room both supply and return ducts are located in the ceiling. Given the high ceiling in this room, during the heating season, conditioned air would need to be supplied at a higher velocity than other rooms to insure mixing with air near the floor. If mixing is not accomplished, air near the floor will be primarily stagnant and remain cool. Stagnant pools of cool air near the floor are typical during the heating season, but due to the high ceiling, may be more prevalent in this particular room. It is possible that the warm air being delivered during the heating season may be short-circuiting to the return inlets allowing little of the heat to reach the floor, creating a cool uncomfortable pool of stagnant air in that area.

During the heating season, filter maintenance on the air handler for this room will be critical to maintain airflow and keep air circulation optimal in an effort to force warm supply air toward the floor. One possible solution to making this room more comfortable may be to extend the return ducting, located in the north west and north east corners, to a location near the floor. It is typically recommended that return air inlets be located to pull air from possible stagnant air areas. Ceiling fans or a diffuser (supply outlet) change may also aid air circulation.

Possible energy savings may be associated with return air inlets being moved to a lower point in the room. If a short-circuiting problem exists, there would be a call for heat that is not being satisfied. The heating system would then run for longer periods than is actually required. Insufficient data is available at this time to determine if short-circuiting exists, to what extent, and the amount of possible energy savings.

This problem may be approached by looking at the cost of further study to determine if short-circuiting exists, and comparing that cost to the cost of lowering the return air inlets.

It is proposed that steam heat be replaced in the 100/200 classroom wing and that those classrooms be added to the heating and cooling requirements of AHU #3. AHU #3 currently provides heating and cooling to the east gym and to the cafeteria. During heating season, the cafeteria requires cooling during the lunch hour. AHU #3 is not capable of providing heating to one area and cooling to another area at the same time. As such, cooling is provided to the new gym when cooling is required of the cafeteria. A similar situation would exist for the 100/200 classroom wing if connected to this AHU.

Currently there is no noticeable effect of cooling to the east gym with regard to comfort during periods of cooling requirements of the cafeteria at lunch hour. It should be noted that the east gym makes up a large volume of air in comparison to the classrooms. Attention should be paid to what effects the cooling requirements of the cafeteria might have on the heating requirements of the classrooms.

Large amounts of airborne dust are created in the Wood Shop. This dust inhibits visibility and air quality for those working in the wood shop. Good visibility is important to safety in any work environment, especially with regard to the operation of power tools as occurs in the Wood Shop. Air quality is an important health issue. While ventilation masks can be worn to help with air quality, goggles for eye safety will become dirty with airborne dust and are not a deterrent to this type of visibility problem.

The current solution to this problem is to open the doors to the Wood Shop and to also open doors to the outside of the building which are near the Wood Shop doors. This then allows outside air to enter the Wood Shop and airborne dust to escape to the outdoors. This practice also allows a certain portion of the airborne dust to infiltrate other areas of the building.

Portable dust collections systems are available that could be used to greatly reduce the amount of airborne dust created in the Wood Shop. A system of this type would enhance the visibility in the Wood Shop during power tool operation, remove airborne dust that could infiltrate other portions of the building, and remove the need to open outside doors during heating and cooling seasons.

Energy use and the ability to conserve that use is very dependent on how well it is controlled. While multiple controls in a single building are acceptable, it is necessary for those controls to communicate. The lack of communication between the two computers controlling Pius’ heating and cooling is cause for concern.

To demonstrate why there should be concern over this lack of communication, let’s name Pius’ two computers Bill and Bob. Bill has control of heating and cooling in the 150/250 classroom wing and Bob has control of the source for Bill’s heating and cooling, the boiler and chiller. Bob also has control of the heating and cooling for the rest of the building. On one particular day Bob has shut down his boiler and chiller because his part of the building has no requirement for heating or cooling. On that same day Bill’s hallways are getting hot and stuffy. Since Bill and Bob do not communicate, not only can Bill not tell Bob he needs his cooling source from the chiller, Bill has no idea that Bob has shut down the chiller.

While Bill and Bob’s predicament is a rather simple demonstration, it shows the need for communication between controls. As more responsibilities are given to Bill, such as control of the AHU#3 replacing the remaining steam heat in classroom wing 100/200, the necessity for communication between the two computers will be more important. To avoid possible future problems this issue should be addressed with the Architect/Engineer during the current renovation.

Some concerns were expressed over the middle hallways becoming stuffy or stale. A stuffy or stale situation is often an indication of excess CO2 levels, which is a need for fresh air. It has also been noted that the restroom exhaust fans in this location may not be operating properly. A quick solution to the problem may be to simply fix the exhaust fans in this area, and possibly duct one of the exhaust fans to another added vent located in the hallway.

The current ventilation system pulls unconditioned air from outside the building and exhausts conditioned air from the building. The cost of conditioning the exhausted air is lost. One way of saving some of this energy would be the addition of an HRV.

An HRV takes air directly from the return air duct delivering it to the outside before it reaches the AHU, and delivers and equal amount of outside air to the AHU. During heating season an HRV would utilize the heat in the air being exhausted to warm the incoming fresh ventilation air. An HRV also works in reverse during the cooling season to cool the warm incoming fresh ventilation air by transferring the heat in that air to the cool air being exhausted. Provided the AHU’s are set up to deliver and return the correct proportions of air from designated areas of the building, an HRV would eliminate the need for exhaust fans and provide a more constant building pressure.

The current air handling system uses what is known as "wild returns." This is return ducting which returns only part way to the air handling unit and is left open at a location near the inlet to the air handling unit. The return air is then either pulled back into the AHU or vented via exhaust vents to the outdoors. In order to replace exhaust fans and maintain a constant building pressure a fully ducted return system would be required.

The American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), recognized as the authority for energy efficient design of new buildings, recommends ventilation of between 15 and 20 cubic feet per minute per person of fresh air. Considering a constituency of 1200 students attending school 8 hours a day and requiring 20 cubic feet per minute of fresh air, the energy requirement for heating ventilation air could be as high as 5,000 therms per year, a possible source of future energy savings.

The ideal HRV system would include fully ducted returns, modulating dampers on supply ducts, and CO2 monitors. The CO2 monitors in various locations would signal controls when fresh air was needed in that location. Dampers on the supply ductwork would then be modulated to provide more air to that part of the building from the AHU. The HRV would then pull more stale air from that location through the return ducts while providing partially conditioned air to the AHU.

The feasibility of including HRV’s as part of the air handling system at Pius can be determined by a qualified professional engineer, who will look at the cost of the addition and balancing that cost against possible energy savings. This will vary with changing energy costs and will be more attractive if energy costs continue to escalate.

See pages 20,21,22 & 23 of this report for energy efficiency recommendations regarding the school building mechanical systems.

The Pius X school building has over thirty exhaust fans and air intakes located on the roof and exterior walls that are of varying ages, types and uses (see Attachment L). These units provide restroom, locker room, electrical room, mechanical room, gymnasium and photo lab exhaust and combustion air when required. Control systems for these units also vary based on the time that the system was installed and the type of air movement required for the space being served. The Team’s review of the units found that at least six of the units are no longer being used for any exhausting purpose, two additional units do not appear to have operating interior units and four of the rooftop unit’s fans appeared to not be in operating order.

See page 28 of this report for energy efficiency recommendations regarding the school building exhaust fans.

Lighting throughout the facility is provided by a combination of incandescent, high intensity discharge (HID) and fluorescent fixtures. Fluorescent lamps provide nearly all of the lighting in the school building’s classrooms, restrooms, storage rooms, corridors and offices. HID fixtures provide lighting in the gymnasium facilities. Incandescent fixtures are located randomly and used minimally for corridor, performance and display lighting.

Exit lighting in the school building is provided by a variety of incandescent and compact fluorescent fixtures.

Replacement or revisions of these older, traditional lighting technologies provide the school an opportunity to increase current lighting levels while reducing electric utility costs.

See pages 24, 26, 27, 33 & 36 of this report for energy efficiency recommendations regarding the school building lighting.

Activities focusing on indoor air quality (IAQ) issues in the project included the following:

Discussion of the basics of IAQ and a Tools For Schools presentation to the school Team.

Completion of an IAQ issues/problems questionnaire of all Pius X teachers and staff. (See Attachment C for a copy of the questionnaire, Attachment D for a summary of the questionnaire results and Attachment E for a spreadsheet of the questionnaire results.)

Completion of an IAQ walk through with Team members and consultants. (See Attachment K.)

In the 100 wing and 200 wing of the classrooms thermal comfort issues have been identified. These tend to be winter seasonal overheating, leading to open windows for compensation. As the systems are upgraded and air conditioning is implemented these complaints should diminish. This is identified in greater detail in the Heating, Cooling and Ventilation Equipment section of this plan.

While the survey did not reveal any broad dissatisfaction with the building and comfort performance issues, except those driven by HVAC system limitations, it is clear that the facility’s staff is responsive to occupant concerns.

Communication about HVAC capacity and how occupants can control their own spaces and take steps to manage and improve their own comfort will maintain good communication and a positive work environment.

This space which has been remodeled and adapted for current purposes, which are inconsistent with the initial design of the structure, has several problems which need to be addressed through a long-term approach.

The area contains the following sources which effect perceptions and air quality:

High intensity activities such as wrestling and weight lifting creating "bioeffluent".

Absorbent materials such as mats, towels and personal gear, which retain moisture and can generate mildew and odors.

Football and other recreational supplies, which are stored in adjacent spaces which, retain moisture and can generate mildew and odors.

Adjacent locker rooms with all associated sources of moisture body odor and absorbent materials.

The problems are exacerbated by the HVAC system configuration, the features of which are identified in the Heating, Cooling and Ventilation section of this plan. Specifically, there is clear potential for inadequate ventilation and circulation due to:

A centralized return for both spaces which does not allow even distribution of airflow through the spaces. This creates short circuiting across the top of the spaces and does not flush the activity area.

A potential for inadequate return air due to filter and grille clogging associated with fiber generating activities.

Uncertain and potentially inadequate exhaust of sources in the storage area (football equipment).

These are operational and structural conditions, which need to be explored in greater detail to determine the most cost-effective approach to improving the air quality.

The following chart shows the recommendations that have been reviewed by the Team and found to be cost effective and/or advantageous to the school. The chart indicates which measures the Team found to be Most Important, Important and Least Important in their "Priority for Implementation.

(Prepared by John Osterman, Energy Financing Division Chief, Nebraska Energy Office)

Included with the action plan is a copy of the Nebraska Energy Office’s "40 Ways To Finance Your Improvements." This financing options handbook was published in 1999, and includes options, which fall into four general areas. These areas are self-financing, direct borrowing, alternative-financing techniques, and community-based financing.

In the case of Pius X Central High School, community-based financing would not apply. However, the other three areas can be considered.

Self-financing is covered on page 3 of the handbook. This involves the use of the institution’s cash flow or cash reserves to finance projects. This is the typical method of financing projects, which have a short pay back period and are relatively inexpensive. Most of the recommendations found in the action plan would fit this option.

Direct borrowing is more often used to finance more capital intensive and longer payback projects, such as retrofitting the school’s existing 4-foot fluorescent fixtures to utilize T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts and installing motion detectors in the locker rooms, storage rooms, and restrooms. If the studies involving the Music Room and Wrestling Room are undertaken and result in recommended capital improvements, direct borrowing could be used to finance these improvements also. Direct borrowing is covered on pages 4 and 5 of the handbook.

In the case of Pius X, it is likely only loans would be a viable option. In addition to taking out a conventional loan from a financial institution, Pius X could access the Nebraska Energy Office’s Dollar and Energy Saving Loan Program through a participating lender. Information on the loan program is covered on pages 44 and 45 of the handbook. The maximum interest rate for borrowers is currently at 5%, and large institutions are eligible now to borrow up to $100,000.00, or $150,000.00 if they are an Energy Star Partner, a voluntary program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for institutions, businesses, and manufacturers. Pius X also could access the Lincoln Diocese’s revolving loan fund as a source of direct borrowing to finance energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements.

Naturally, any or all projects, regardless of cost or payback period, could be financed by direct borrowing or self-financed. If current budgets or cash reserves are not sufficient to self-finance projects, and this is the preferred method of financing, the needed dollars could be raised through some type of fund raising effort or capital campaign undertaken by the school.

In addition to self-financing or direct borrowing, Pius X could look at alternative financing techniques, such as leasing or performance contracting. These approaches are discussed on pages 4 and 5 of the financing handbook. Leasing is attractive if Pius X did not want to come up with the cash out of its own pocket to finance recommended improvements and they did not want to incur the debt. Ownership of the improvements would remain with a third-party and Pius X’s lease payment would be budgeted as an operating expense, most likely covered by the energy or operational cost savings generated by the project.

A performance contract with Pius X likely would not be attractive to an energy services company, since the school is well run and mining additional savings out of the remaining improvements would not be lucrative enough, nor the dollar amount of the project large enough for them to undertake the venture.

Lease Purchase Agreements are covered in more detail on page 35 of the financing options handbook, and Performance Contracting on pages 42 and 43.

Lastly, in undertaking any improvements, a building owner should research carefully whether there are rebates offered by their energy suppliers which could cover part of the cost of energy efficiency improvements they are making or if they offer any direct finance programs. In addition, equipment manufacturers frequently offer financial incentives, such as discounts or rebates, or have direct finance programs with attractive terms, and should be explored when considering the implementation of the energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements recommended in this action plan. Other Incentives and Rebates are discussed on page 6 of the financing options handbook.

It is the feeling of the Pius X "Tools for Schools" Team that the best way to utilize the resources and knowledge gained from this experience would be for the Lincoln Diocesan Catholic Schools to form a committee which would represent all of the Catholic schools in the Diocese. The purpose of this "Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality Committee" would be to share resources, personnel and expertise to benefit all the schools in the Diocese as they study their building needs and efficiency. The savings in energy costs, which could result, would benefit many of our schools. The Committee could address specific needs of each building and hire or appoint one person to be coordinator of this Committee. This person would be trained and then be available to any school as a consultant in the areas of energy efficiency and air quality, and the costs would be minimal because they would be spread out among all the schools.

The supply air exhausts and return air inlets are located in the ceiling of the music room. Given the high ceiling in the music room, it is possible that a short circuiting problem exists in this area.

Cost savings will vary depending on the amount of short-circuiting that may exist.

A stale odor is prevalent in the Wrestling/Weight Room. The supply air exhausts and return air inlets are located in the ceiling of the wrestling/weight room. Given the horizontal orientation of the supply exhaust ducts and a relatively high ceiling, it is possible that a short circuiting problem exists in this area resulting in minimal air movement near the floor.

Cost savings in this area may be minimal, as there is currently no concern over cold, but more concern over the stale air odor. However, lowering the return air inlets may provide some relief from the stale air odor.

It is currently proposed to replace the steam heat in the southeast classrooms with heating and cooling from Air Handling Unit #3. Air Handling Unit #3 also serves the cafeteria, which requires lunch hour cooling during the heating season. Air Handling Unit #3 would not be capable of providing cooling to the cafeteria and heating to the southeast class rooms at the same time.

Cost savings may be realized if the cooling of the cafeteria results in cooling of the southeast classrooms when those classrooms are calling for heat.

During periods of equipment use in the wood shop a large amount of airborne dust is created. The current solution to this problem is to open the doors to the Wood Shop and nearby doors to the outside of the building allowing fresh air to enter the Wood Shop.

Cost savings would be realized during heating a cooling months as the doors to the outside could remain closed. The degree of savings is most likely minimal.

More importantly, dust collection will remove the possibility of contamination of indoor air in other areas of the building, and will greatly enhance visibility in the Wood Shop during power tool operation and help to insure the safety of the students operating those power tools.

The exit lights throughout the facility use a combination of incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps. Because of stringent fire and safety codes these fixtures are required to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Incandescent and fluorescent lamps, especially the incandescent lamps, use much more energy than the newer lighting technologies that have become available. They also have a limited life span and need to be replaced quite often.

The Team recommends that the existing exit light fixtures be replaced with Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. LED fixtures use less than 2 watts per fixture and will replace fixtures that use 14 or 40 watts per fixture.

· $265 annually in your electricity costs for an initial estimated investment of $1,860

The stadium currently has one natural gas meter that supplies a water heater in the coach’s office and two ceiling hung furnaces, one in each of the locker rooms. At the time of the inspection the gas and electric was shut off to the water heater, but the gas to each of the furnaces was on and the standing pilot lights were operating.

Controlling the use of all of this equipment is essential to avoid unnecessary utility costs. Currently the equipment is controlled seasonally by shutting off the gas and electricity to the water heater and the electricity to the furnaces between football and track season. This practice appears to have worked for the past couple of years and should continue as part of the stadium facility’s use and maintenance schedule.

· $124 annually in you natural gas costs for an annual estimated investment of $40

Nearly all of the fluorescent fixtures in the building utilize T-12, 4-foot, 34-Watt fluorescent lamps and electromagnetic ballasts. Traditional magnetic ballasts consume an additional 15% of the fluorescent lamps’ wattage, therefore a 34-watt tube with a magnetic ballast consumes 39 watts total, in contrast to use with an electronic ballast which adds nearly nothing in consumption. By retrofitting these fixtures to use T8, 32-watt lamps and electronic ballasts you have the ability to save 14 watts on a two-lamp fixture, 21 watts on a three-lamp fixture and 28 watts on a four-lamp fixture. These wattage savings equate to an annual savings of $2.43, $3.65 and $4.87 respectively for fixtures used an average of 3500 hours per year. Although these numbers seem small in comparison to the school’s annual electricity budget, the Pius X Central High School has an assortment of nearly 800 - 2, 3 & 4-lamp fluorescent fixtures that utilize the 34-watt lamps and magnetic ballasts.

These fixtures can be replaced all at one time (group retrofit) or one at a time as the existing units burn out (spot retrofit). A "group retrofit" involves an initial cost investment to the school, but allows a concentrated effort to complete the work. It insures that all old, inefficient and often outdated equipment is replaced with high efficiency, consistent lighting equipment. This type of retrofit also allows the school to received the benefits of higher lighting levels, consistent lighting quality and energy savings immediately following the completion of the work. "Spot retrofit" of the existing lighting fixtures avoids the initial cost of implementation but, based on the various lamp life of different types of fluorescent lamps, any energy cost savings to the school would not be discernable in the electric bill. A "spot retrofit" implementation also can not ensure the building occupants of consistent lighting throughout the facility or the maintenance staff of consistent equipment needs for future retrofit purposes.

· $3,024 annually in your electricity costs for an initial estimated investment of $48,990

The Practice Gymnasium in the facility currently has a combination of 22 8-foot, 2-lamp fluorescent fixtures that utilize 60-watt, T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts, and 24 400-watt metal halide fixtures. According to maintenance staff the fixtures are rarely all used at the same time, with the 4 corner metal halide fixtures and the fluorescent fixtures providing the majority of the lighting throughout the school day. During the Team’s discussion regarding the lamps and magnetic ballasts consumption, it was learned that the school’s maintenance staff already was considering lighting revisions in this area. The revisions are being considered due to numerous issues with the existing fluorescent fixtures including:

Increasing maintenance time required to replace the lamps and ballasts due to the additional safety requirements of the fixture security cages.

The proposed plan includes removing the fluorescent fixtures and rewiring the existing the halide fixtures to allow a switching configuration of one switch for the corner fixtures and four switches operating separate banks of five halides. Although there is no energy cost savings associated with this revision, it would allow the building staff to use only the lights required based on the activities planned daily in the gym and reduce the increased maintenance costs being experienced.

Based on the assumption that only half of the halide fixtures will be utilized during school days, this recommendation would:

· increase the school’s annual electricity cost by $96, but would reduce the annual maintenance cost by $243. Providing an annual operating cost savings to the school of $147 for an initial estimated cost of $660.

There are currently over 30 different types of exhaust fans on the roof of the building and numerous mechanical equipment air intake units. An inspection of the units indicates the following:

Five exhaust units on the original portion of the building, which provided exhaust for the corridors and remodeled classrooms, have been abandoned in place.

One exhaust unit near the elevator tower, which originally provided exhaust to the current classroom area above the stage, has been abandoned in place.

The exhaust fans for the original and central wing photo labs are rarely used and may soon be abandoned.

The two restroom fans for the central corridor restrooms apparently were intended for 24 hour operation and are currently not operating as planned.

The Music Room restroom fan operates 24 hours a day exhausting conditioned air even when the building is not occupied.

Two exhaust fans located on the east side of the chapel addition appear to have no interior units and may have been abandoned in place during the northeast wing/weight room remodel.

At least two roof top fan motors were not operating correctly during the April 30, 2001 inspection.

Although the shower fans are controlled by toggle switches in both locker room areas, the units operate continuously.

Although the kiln exhaust fan is controlled by a toggle switch, the unit is allowed to operate nearly continuously.

Two air intake for the ceiling hung units in the practice gymnasium remain in place although the units are rarely used and planned for elimination in the current mechanical retrofit.

On numerous visits to the school building (during and after school hours) it was noted by the Team members that nearly all of the computers and monitors in the facility were left "on" during unoccupied hours. Discussions with staff and the additional Team members indicated that the school had a policy of not shutting off the computers over night or over the weekends due to the belief that being turned "on" and "off" caused unneeded wear on the computers. This was a concern early in the development of personal computer systems, however as the systems have developed and improved, it is generally believed that leaving the system "on" may be harder on the hard drive than shutting them "off". Although many of the units go into "sleep" mode when not used within a certain amount of time, they still use energy when not turned "off" and with the large number of units being used in the building, a positive energy savings is possible.

The Team recommends that a school policy be initiated requiring all staff to shut "off" all personal computer equipment (excluding network servers) during unoccupied hours.

Currently there are two General Service Demand (GSD), three-phase meters serving the school building. One is located in the boiler room and one is located in the north corridor central mechanical room. GSD meters are used for customers whose:

Under the GSD service the school pays a per meter customer charge of $17.00/month ($204.00/year), $8.50 per kilowatt of billing demand and an energy charge of $0.0205 per kilowatt-hour for all kilowatt-hours used during the billing period for the winter months. The kilowatt-hour charge for the summer months is $0.024 per kilowatt-hour.

Discussion with Lincoln Electric System (LES) indicates that the original plans for the north classroom addition, which added the second 3-phase meter, included sizing the new meter to serve the entire school building and removing the initial service. LES staff has contacted the electrician involved with the addition to determine when the meters would be combined and the original meter removed. To date the meters have not been combined.

This meter combination would save the school the second monthly service charge and allow load diversity in the demand use that should also produce a billing demand reduction.

Implementing this recommendation would provide an estimated energy cost savings of:

The existing hot water piping in the stadium facility is uninsulated. Insulating the pipes will not only save natural gas use, but will reduce water used by occupants running showers until hot water reaches the showerheads.

The Team also noted that with the construction of the new concession stand/restroom facility, initially there had been discussion of utilizing the stadium’s existing water heater to provide hot water to the new building. They were unsure as to whether the final plans for the new building had included this option or whether the plans included insulating all new building hot water piping.

Currently toggle type switches control the majority of the building light fixtures, leaving the responsibility for shutting off the fixtures to the occupants. Generally toggle switches are adequate controls for corridor, classroom and staff support rooms in a school where staff and students are responsible for shutting off lights during unoccupied times. However, lighting in restrooms, locker rooms and equipment storage areas generally are left on the majority of the day and often into the evenings, overnight and over the weekends.

The Team recommends that motion detectors be installed in the school’s locker rooms, restrooms and storage rooms to ensure that the lights are shut off when the rooms are not occupied.

There are two General Service (GS), single-phase meters for the stadium facility. One is located on the west side of the field and is for the west stadium lights. The other is located on the southeast corner of the stadium and serves the east stadium lights, the concession stand, the athletic field signage and athletic field sprinklers.

Under the GS meter requirements the school pays a customer charge of $7.65/month ($91.80/year) for each meter and pays an energy charge of $0.0425 per kilowatt-hour for all kilowatt-hours used during the billing period for the winter months. The kilowatt-hour charge for the summer months is $0.056 per kilowatt-hour.

There is a General Service (GS), single-phase meter in front of the school building by the Pius X sign that serves the school signage and front walk lights.

Under the GS meter requirements the school pays a customer charge of $7.65/month ($91.80/year) for the meter and pays an energy charge of $0.0425 per kilowatt-hour for all kilowatt-hours used during the billing period for the winter months. The kilowatt-hour charge for the summer months is $0.056 per kilowatt-hour.

Implementation of this recommendation would save the annual monthly service charge on the signage meter and reduce the cost being paid per kilowatt-hour by more than half.

A variety of incandescent lamps are used to provide area lighting in one hallway, the display lighting in the main entry area, the LPAC and the band room. Incandescent lamps use a much higher percentage of energy than other lighting technologies and, based on their short life span, need to be replaced quite often. Because of the type of lighting colors and dimming capabilities required for display and performance lighting the Team does not recommend any changes in the display, LPAC or the band room. However, in the corridor near Fr. Morin’s office incandescent, flush mounted fixtures are used to provide area lighting. Fluorescent lighting technologies provide greater lighting levels at lower costs.

Recommendation	Estimated Cost	Est. Annual Savings	Simply Payback	Description Page #
Priority – Most Important
Study lowering the Music Room return air inlets for warmth.	$1,000	N/A	N/A	20
Study lowering the Wrestling Room return air inlets.	$1,500	N/A	N/A	21
Complete further study to determine the effects of providing heating and cooling to the southeast classrooms using Air Handling Unit #3.	N/A	N/A	N/A	22
Wood Shop dust collection system	$750	N/A	N/A	23
Replace the existing exit light fixtures be replaced with LED fixtures.	$1,860	$265	7.0 yrs	24
Turn off the pilot lights on the ceiling hung furnaces in the stadium facility when the locker rooms are not used for planned student activities.	$40	$124	4 mos.	25
Retrofit the school’s existing 4-foot fluorescent fixtures to utilize T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts	$48,990	$3,024	16.2 yrs.	26
Remove the Practice Gymnasium’s existing 8-foot fluorescent fixtures and revise the current switching to allow the HID fixtures to provide area lighting in five individual banks.	$660	$147	4.5 yrs.	27
Seal the currently abandoned rooftop exhaust fans from the inside and remove them as future roofing projects occur. Complete annual inspections and maintenance on all remaining rooftop exhaust units.	$400	$440	11 mos.	28
Priority – Important
Initiate a school policy requiring all staff to shut "off" all personal computer equipment (excluding network servers) during unoccupied hours.	$0	$1,044	Immediate	30
Combine the General Service Demand (GSD) electric meters that serve the school building.	$14,500	$2,724	5.3 yrs.	31
Insulate all hot water pipes in the stadium facility.	$150	$18	8.3 yrs.	32
Install motion detectors in the locker rooms, restrooms and storage rooms to ensure that the lights are shut off when the rooms are not occupied.	$3,600	$320	11.25 yrs.	33
Priority – Least Important
Combine the two athletic field electric meters.	$8,200	$92	89.1 yrs.	34
Combine the front signage electric meter with school building’s GSD meter.	$3,025	$574	5.2 yrs.	35
Replace corridor incandescent fixtures with one-lamp, 4-foot fluorescent fixtures that utilize a T-8 lamp and electronic ballasts.	$1496	$85	17.6 yrs.	36

Pius X Tools For Schools Program Action Report

History