The Challenge

On a school campus with six buildings in Northern California, the administration sought an affordable way to curb rising energy costs. Each building had standalone HVAC systems, there were no lighting controls, and 190 computers ran around the clock. Doors were often propped open while HVAC operated, wasting energy.

The campus needed an energy management system that could tie together six buildings, 35 HVAC units, 108 lighting circuits, and more than 175 computers, while remaining easy for administrators to manage without special training.

The Solution

DYNAMIC SCHEDULING

Occupancy sensors were installed throughout the facility. EnergyCenter rules schedule how lighting, HVAC, and plug loads respond to occupied and unoccupied states at various times and on different types of days.

OCCUPANCY RULES AND SETBACKS

HVAC units have longer delays before setbacks during school hours and shorter delays after hours. Lighting circuits turn off sooner in the evenings, and classroom PCs hibernate when unoccupied.

CONTACT SENSORS

If doors to the gym or classrooms remain open for more than 60 seconds, HVAC setbacks are triggered and an email alert is sent. Normal operation resumes once doors are closed.

EVENT SCHEDULES

Holidays, vacations, and special events are programmed using EnergyCenter’s calendar interface, and gymnasium lighting and HVAC are scheduled for sporting events and presentations.

The Results

EnergyCenter delivered measurable savings, reducing lighting use by 48%, HVAC by 31%, and PCs and plug loads by 85%. Overall, the school reports more than 70% savings, tracked in real time to identify further improvements.

As the campus expanded, additional exterior lighting and HVAC controls were easily added, demonstrating EnergyCenter’s scalability.