How do you lead through sustainability in unprecedented conditions? Facilities staff at the Upper Grand District School Board managed to do just that, focusing on reducing the board’s energy consumption amid a period of time none of us have experienced before.
Every five years the board is required to develop and post a plan that outlines its strategies for improving energy efficiency and reducing consumption. From 2018-2022, the goal was to steadily reduce the board’s energy intensity and consumption, through a variety of measures. The plan was set, staff were ready. But then, came 2020 and a global pandemic that would change the entire system’s processes, structures, and demands.
Recently this fall, staff went to a Finance and Facilities Committee meeting to present energy data from 2018-2019 to 2022-2023, looking at the consumption goals set by the board and the actual energy intensity that was reduced. Of course, the goals, set in 2019, were made based on the assumption that operational parameters would remain stable.
But when the pandemic hit, everything changed. Buildings were shuttered, reducing the amount of energy used in our buildings and staff and students worked and learned from home. When the buildings re-opened they did so with strict health and safety parameters in place, including increased ventilation, running HEPA filter units in all classrooms and learning spaces, higher filtration requirements, and extended operating hours for HVAC equipment, all of which resulted in a significant rise in energy usage.
Other factors unrelated to the pandemic also contributed to increased energy demands, including rising enrolment, which led to the addition of more portables at schools.
And yet, despite all of the changes in schools that led to a rise in energy consumption, the board was still able to achieve 45% of its conservation goals. Despite the increased energy usage driven by pandemic health and safety requirements, the UGDSB successfully reduced its total greenhouse gas emissions by 600,000 kg CO₂.
“The UGDSB’s Multi-Year Plan has identified Leading Through Sustainability as a key priority. Part of this work is looking for staff and students to lead sustainability initiatives in our buildings and school communities,” said UGDSB Associate Director, Brent McDonald. “The targets established in this year’s Conservation and Demand Management Plan are one way we can demonstrate leadership in ensuring we are doing our part to reduce energy consumption.”
Moving forward, Facilities staff are looking to be pretty aggressive in their sustainability goals for the next five years.
The UGDSB will continue investing in renewable energy projects, such as solar panels, to reduce the board’s draw on the electricity grid. Currently, 45 UGDSB schools have solar panels, with more to come.
The board will also continue to seek opportunities to upgrade HVAC systems with more efficient technologies such as heat pumps. These upgrades not only provide air conditioning to previously unconditioned spaces but also reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Seven Upper Grand schools currently use heat pump technology, and plans are in place to equip two new upcoming schools with heat pumps.
Other plans include continuing to ensure Upper Grand buildings function at optimal efficiency by conducting energy audits and enhancing controls, and focusing on occupant behaviour strategies, informing and training people so they know the things they can do to help improve our carbon footprint.
The planned expansion of solar energy, the implementation of advanced energy-efficient technologies, and our continuous efforts to enhance operational efficiency underscore our commitment to reducing the UGDSB’s overall carbon footprint. As we move forward, these initiatives are expected to yield energy savings, amounting to over 25 million ekWh over the next five years, and achieve a total energy reduction of 12.6%.
“There is a lot of work to be done and we will need to rely upon all members of our school community to assist with measures and actions that will help us achieve these targets. We are looking forward to continued engagement with student and staff leaders and all members of our school communities to assist in making these targets become a reality,” said McDonald.