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Consultants say energy program reduced district usage by about 15–17%; $500,000 in gross savings reported
Summary
A Synergistic consulting team told the Burlington board the district’s energy‑efficiency program has reduced energy use roughly 14.7–17% from the base year and produced about $500,000 in gross savings through April; five buildings have earned EPA Energy Star recognition.
The Burlington Community School District on July 28 heard an energy‑efficiency update from Synergistic consultants who said their program has produced measurable reductions in energy use across district facilities.
A Synergistic representative said the district’s energy use index fell about 17% compared with the program’s base year, with several buildings showing reductions in excess of 20%. The presenter characterized cumulative gross savings through April at roughly $500,000 and stated the program showed about a 14.7% reduction in energy consumption in some reported metrics.
The presentation credited a combination of operations changes, building audits (the presenter cited roughly 1,900 building audits in the last 12 months), and technology adjustments. The consultant emphasized that the program will not reduce energy “at the cost of your, the comfort in your facilities or the integrity of your facility,” and that measurements for EPA Energy Star qualification require documentation of comfort and safety metrics.
Consultants pointed to several specific savings examples: low monthly bills in certain buildings during spring months were used as illustrations of improved efficiency; the consultant also noted that the district’s negotiated energy rates and prior HVAC upgrades contributed to lower cost‑per‑square‑foot measures.
Synergistic recommended additional incremental measures (pool‑cover analysis, consolidation of summer activations, further controls on kiln operation and scheduling) and said five district buildings have qualified for EPA Energy Star recognition; presenters proposed presenting plaques to building principals and to the administration building after construction is complete.
Board members asked for follow‑up charts showing yearly declines and dollar savings per building and for clarification of how much of the savings reflect equipment upgrades installed before the program. Synergistic said it will provide more granular, year‑by‑year graphs and adjustments to ensure apples‑to‑apples comparisons.
