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Governing Board Policies

Section E: Support Services

Policy Title: Energy Conservation
Policy Code: ECF
Lead Department: Engineering, Facilities, and Planning

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MISSION
To create a healthy and comfortable learning environment in new and existing facilities while controlling energy consumption and diverting the saved utility costs towards educational programs.

To promote increased awareness among students, staff and members of the community to practice better environmental and economic stewardship.

PURPOSE
To ensure that Tucson Unified School District pursues energy and natural resources conservation efforts and practices that continue to preserve our natural resources while providing a safe and comfortable learning environment for all staff and students.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

  • Energy: Electricity and natural gas
  • Water: Potable water for both buildings and landscaping, reclaimed water, sewer, and rainwater
  • Waste: Trash (refuse), recyclable materials, and organic (green) waste
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel fuel, and oil products
  • Alternative Fuels: Compressed natural gas, bio-diesel, and electricity

OBJECTIVES
The District shall continue to establish procedures to ensure the conservation of energy and natural resources by personnel at all levels of the school system, which shall include the following practices:

  1. Development and implementation of energy and natural resource conservation policy regulations that outline goals and objectives to meet the mission of Policy ECF.
  2. Implement policy regulation programs and/or plans to help educate staff and students reduce energy, water, and waste.
  3. Demonstration of resource-efficient design and operation of school facilities to help reduce energy, water, and waste.
  4. Study of anticipated energy performance on all facility renovations and new TUSD construction.
  5. Utilization of efficient technologies and the use of renewable resources to help reduce energy, water and waste.
  6. Monitoring the general operation and maintenance of all heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment.
  7. Partnership with related local, state, and national programs to leverage outside funding and support energy, water, and waste conservation

DESIRED OUTCOME
Health and Community Benefits

  1. Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
  2. Enhance occupant comfort and health
  3. Minimize strain on local infrastructure
  4. Contribute to overall quality of life

Economic Benefits

  1. Reduce operating costs
  2. Enhance asset value and profits
  3. Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
  4. Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Environmental Benefits

  1. Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
  2. Improve air and water quality
  3. Reduce solid waste
  4. Conserve natural resources

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
The implementation of this policy is the joint responsibility of the administrators, teachers, students, and support personnel, and its success is based on cooperation at all levels. The site administrators, directors, managers, and supervisors will be accountable for energy management within their area of responsibility with conservation programs reviewed and updated on a yearly basis. Judicious use of the various energy systems of each campus will be monitored to ensure that an efficient energy posture is maintained on an ongoing basis. Every student and employee will be expected to contribute to energy efficiency in the District. Every person will be expected to be an "energy saver" as well as an "energy consumer."

REVIEW AND REPORTING
This policy will be reviewed on an on-going basis.

The Administrative Regulation for this policy shall define implementation details.

Adopted: December 17, 1991
Revision: September 3, 1996
November 12, 2002
June 24, 2004
June 10, 2008
Future Cross Ref: 3751 Efficient Paper Utilization
Replaces TUSD Policy # 3750