Schools saving energy costs

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Energy saving efforts are paying off for Mid-Del Schools.

The district saved about $306,109 in energy costs as a result of a program managed by Cenergistics, an energy conservation company based in Dallas, Texas.

Kevin Edwards, client manager for Cenergistics, gave a presentation to the school board last month showing how the program has saved the district money in its first year from August 2023 to August 2024.

The savings measure the impact of the energy program on utility consumption and cost when independent variables are factored in. The amount of energy the district saved would be enough to run all the middle school buildings for one year, Edwards said.

Much of the savings Edward said are from staff supporting the program during the normal school week and through extended setback periods during summer vacation, and holiday breaks when buildings are less occupied.

“That’s a great opportunity to steward some of that energy and generate some savings,” said Edwards at the Dec. 9 school board meeting.

Cenergistics completed the first year of a five-year program with Mid-Del. The energy savings are calculated by comparing usage to the base year, which was one year before the study began.
Mid-Del saw its energy usage decline in all but two months. Energy usage spiked in January 2024 due to an extreme weather event.

Board president Ed Daniel asked if there was a point of diminishing returns for the savings. Edwards said they want to see improvement every year but noted that there is often a smaller reduction between the first and second years.

“You may not have as much of a significant improvement the first year compared to the second year because of all of that low hanging fruit has been captured,” he said. “… You can be very aggressive.

But the more aggressive you get you run into the human factor and if people are truly comfortable when they come into their classroom.”

The environmental impact during the first year included a reduction of 1,691 metric tons of CO2, and more than 1.8 million pounds of coal burned, according to the report.

The study also monitored utility rates, which were lower than expected after year one. Cenergitics agreed to lower the cost to the district by about $6,000 per month to accommodate the lower utility rates. The monthly rate decreased from $31,018 to $25,246.

Cenergistics said they are working with OG&E to obtain interval data that allows them to see energy usage in real time. That information will help them better implement their energy savings program.

“Please keep up the good work, said Lynn Pace, senior vice president, strategic initiatives. “Can you imagine what the country would be like if everyone was doing what you’re doing.”

Cenergistics is now having experts meet with staff to discuss ways to improve mechanical systems.

The district may be eligible for Energy Star certification with the U.S. Department of Energy, which adds legitimacy to their efforts.

Cenergistics has a five-year contract with Mid-Del Schools. The school board approved the agreement in June 2023.