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Energy conservation measures cut district electricity use about 10%, facilities director says
Summary
Facilities director JB Hessel told the board district energy conservation measures launched in October have reduced kilowatt usage about 10.5% year‑to‑date; the district expected 7% savings and estimates near‑term dollar savings just under $30,000.
Facilities director JB Hessel (S14) reported to the Buckingham County School Board that energy conservation measures, launched in October, have produced notable year‑to‑date reductions in electricity use across the division.
Hessel said the district set an initial target of 7% energy reduction for the first year of measures; "We're right now at around 10 and a half percent down for all schools," he told the board, noting that cold weather in February affected some monthly results. The presentation showed mixed month‑to‑month performance across buildings (some larger buildings and the cottage showed volatility tied to weather and building footprint), and staff estimated near‑term savings of just under $30,000 against a target of roughly $38,000 if 7% had been achieved.
Board members asked about anomalies in specific buildings and whether the per‑kilowatt charge had changed; Hessel said he normalized the comparison by holding the price per kilowatt consistent for the year‑over‑year calculation. He warned that second‑year percentage gains may be smaller after low‑hanging efficiency opportunities are exhausted and that the team will pursue deeper measures going forward.
