Pratt also became aware of the Consumers Energy program that funds energy efficiency audits to look for ways to adjust scheduled, sequence operations and/or upgrade equipment to be more energy efficient. With tight school budgets the opportunity to have these evaluations paid for made a clear decision to move forward.

Pratt hired the local, approved energy audit firm E3M Solutions to conduct an energy audit, with focus on heating and cooling equipment and BMS control systems.

E3M started the work with a kick-off meeting that included the team from Lowell Area Schools staff, E3M team and Consumers Energy representatives to review the overall timeline, participation from team, and each phase deliverable.

E3M also completed a thorough review of existing mechanical, electrical, and temperature control drawings and past 12-36 months of utility bills (natural gas and electric) to become familiar with the existing building systems and controls.

The team then identified items for improvement during the site assessment and Building Management System (BMS) review, both onsite and remote.

Upon completion of these steps, the E3M team compiled a list of potential improvements, identifying low cost / no cost items and capital facility improvement measures with some basic saving and cost calculations. Once the team reviewed the list, the school team identified what they were interested in completing based on cost and return on investments (ROI) and E3M performed more in-depth calculations for those next steps.

Based on that feedback and in more depth calculations, the list was updated, and implementation preparations were made. The team again gathered to review the improvements that could be implemented within the next 90 days. The remaining improvements would be grouped as “to be completed when budget allowed” and “capital expenditures” and were slated for potential completion 2-5 years out.

A total of sixteen (16) system improvements and fourteen (14) operations and maintenance items were finalized for report. For the facilities team the training and preventative maintenance plans were impactful. “We have a young facilities team and to receive this level of training and have a plan created for maintenance on these complicated systems was invaluable to us,” said Pratt.

E3M validated implementation of the improvements as they were completed by the school or contractors. The school would notify E3M of completion, in turn E3M validated by either a site visit or logging into the BMS system remotely to confirm implementation.

“Within days of implementation we saw more consistent temperatures and less work orders related to temperature issues come across our systems,” said Pratt.

There were 10 improvements slated for completion within 90 days at a calculated cost of $3,375 and a calculated annual savings of $47,277 resulting in an ROI of 1 month. The school system now plans to continue these audits at the middle school and high school to identify energy savings and optimization in those buildings.

“E3M made a very complex task, simple. I enjoyed their ability to provide not only solutions to problems but provide long term strategies for us as a district to save dollars and make a better environment for our kids,” said Pratt.

Lowell Area Schools District accomplished this project with the assistance of the Consumers Energy “Retro-Commissioning Facility IQ Study,” focused on making sequence of operation changes at the BMS that would impact energy consumption, without impacting quality of space comfort. The plan paid a provider, E3M Solutions to complete the study with the Consumers Energy paying E3M a fee (based on tier size = $ amount) and Lowell Area Schools covering a percentage of that fee to be invested to implement the identified low cost or quick payback measures.