District energy consultant reports roughly 17% drop in energy use; five buildings earn EPA Energy Star recognition
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Summary
Synergistic consultants told the Burlington board their two-year engagement has cut district energy use by about 17%, producing net savings the consultant estimated at roughly $500,000 since the program began and earning Energy Star recognition for five school buildings.
Synergistic, the district's energy consulting partner, presented year-two results to the Burlington Community School District board on July 28, reporting a 14–17% reduction in energy use districtwide compared with the program baseline and cumulative gross savings of roughly $500,000.
John Lyberg, a Synergistic consultant, said the district's 12-month energy-use index fell from about 58 kBtu per square foot in the baseline year to about 48 kBtu per square foot — a roughly 17% reduction. He cautioned that the percentage reduction varies by building; several buildings recorded more than 20% reductions, Lyberg said.
Lyberg provided building-level examples: April utility charges for smaller buildings were low (he cited $352 and $524 as monthly bills for two facilities in April) and noted that replacing older air-conditioning equipment has reduced demand and power-factor charges, producing recurring seasonal savings. The consultants estimated replacing older HVAC units produced seasonal savings of about $13,350 per unit per cooling season in one example.
Synergistic staff credited district operations and cooperation with the program for the results and emphasized they will continue to pursue incremental savings while protecting occupant comfort and building integrity. The consultant stated they "will not reduce energy at the cost of your ... comfort or the integrity of your facility," and described ongoing building audits, controls tuning, and targeted measures such as consolidation of occupied space during summer months.
The presentation also noted five district buildings have been certified as ENERGY STAR-qualified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which requires measurement of temperature, humidity, CO2, lighting and energy use and a third-party engineer signoff. Synergistic said plaques will be delivered and the district may publicize the recognition.
Board members asked for follow-up analyses showing year-by-year decline and building-level cost baselines (square footage and historical utility costs) so the district can separate savings from equipment upgrades and program activity. Synergistic agreed to supply additional breakdowns.
The board acknowledged the presentation and thanked the consultants for the work.
