LibGuides: Energy Efficient Schools: Barriers to change

This section discusses factors that may impede implementation of energy design modifications at schools. Factors that may impede the implementation of energy efficient designs and strategies may include:

Allocation of budgetary resources required for obtaining new energy efficient equipment, either as a retrofit or in a new school,
Lack of an energy policy for schools and sufficient time to draft and adopt an energy efficient policy,
Lack of awareness of the simple steps that can amount to big differences and savings.
Lack of support at the decision-making (district or state) level for implementation and funding an energy efficient program,
Not understanding legislative requirements or compliance directives from the state or district,
Inadequate internal support and commitment for maintenance of newer technology,
Lack of resources to fund teacher training for new curricula or for obtaining educational materials.

Readily available resources can help with overcoming the common barriers to implementation of Energy Efficient Schools. Some examples are included in the table below. Additional resources are listed in the Essential Links box on the left side of the page.

Barrier to Change	Ways to Address the Barrier	Resources
Budgetary limitations	Investment costs provide future financial savings. Operating budget can be a potential source of revenue to pay for energy efficiency upgrades.	Myths About Energy In Schools Financing Efficient and Healthy Retrofits Innovative Financing Solutions: Finding Money for Energy Efficiency Projects in the Public Sector ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator
Time necessary to draft and adopt an energy efficient policy	An energy efficiency policy developed through a cooperative effort of staff (administration, teachers, support, and facilities managers) can address key areas of energy use and strategies for reducing energy consumption.	Iredell-Statesville Schools [NC] Energy Management Policy A Strategic Energy Management Plan Model: Factors to be considered when developing a plan for K-12 Schools and Community College Systems ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management
Green building is perceived as energy efficient.	The measurement of energy efficiency must be a whole building measurement, not building component based.	ENERGY STAR Benchmarking Starter Kit Target Finder for New Design
Inadequate support by decision-makers (district or state) for implementation of energy efficient programs in schools.	High energy costs are encouraging all states and their school districts to examine energy efficiency legislation. School energy policies and programs are being adopted across the country and are continually improving.	Illinois School Construction Law (105 ILCS 230/) Energy Efficient and Healthy K-12 Public School Facilities: Opportunities for State Energy Offices and State Education Agencies to Collaborate
Lack of awareness of simple steps that can amount to big savings	Energy audit tools can help schools and staff identify areas of energy waste.	School Energy Efficiency Checklist (Action on Carbon and Energy in Schools) Energy Auditor Checklist (Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program)
Lack of internal support and commitment for maintenance of newer technology.	New technology can seem intimidating and it often seems more cost effective to remain with the more familiar equipment.	School Operations and Maintenance: Best Practices for Controlling Energy Costs
Lack of resources to fund teacher training for new curricula or for obtaining educational materials	There is an overwhelming amount of energy education material available and it becomes difficult for educators to assess what is most appropriate for classroom use. Identifying the best resources will simplify the necessary training.	National Energy Education Development Program

Essential Links

Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits [PDF]
Written by Gregory Kats, this report is intended to answer this fundamental question: how much more do green schools cost, and is greening schools cost effective? This report documents the financial costs and benefits of green schools compared to conventional schools. This national review of 30 green schools demonstrates that green schools cost less than 2% more than conventional schools - or about $3 per square foot ($3/ft2) - but provide financial benefits that are 20 times as large...
Managing the Cost of Green Buildings: K-12 Public Schools; Research Laboratories; Public Libraries; Multi-family Affordable Housing
This report describes how to control the costs of green building projects by summarizing the research done on that topic for the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA), the California State and Consumer Services Agency (SCSA), California's Sustainable Building Task Force, and the California Department of General Services (DGS). (PDF Format; Length: 88 pages)
School Operations and Maintenance: Best Practices for Controlling Energy Costs
Designed for K-12 school system business officials and facilities managers to meet the specific needs of school district staff for integrating energy efficiency into school building operation and maintenance. It not only provides technical information, but also organizational information on barriers, challenges, and the necessary steps required to develop this type of energy management program within the school district organizational structure. In addition, it contains case studies that are essential to providing experience-based observations and "real life" approaches to which school district staff can relate.