This section outlines short-term and long-term benefits and justifications for implementing energy education and designs in schools. School administrators and school boards want justifiable, measurable reasons for exploring and eventually implementing energy efficiency upgrades or designs. Supporting reasons can be complex, but the most commonly accepted reason is the simple payback for both long-term and short-term economic gains. Some of other reasons include:
Compliance with energy regulations as well as environmental regulations is quickly becoming a major incentive for implementing energy efficient designs. Some states and local governments require that building renovations and new construction meet certain energy efficiency codes and standards. Improving energy efficiency also reduces contributions to global warming and other environmental impacts.
Energy efficient activities save money in direct and indirect costs related to materials, operations, and pollution or waste treatment and disposal. For example, sealing gaps around windows and doors has the added benefit of reducing or eliminating the presence of pests. Some opportunities, such as rebates and tax incentives, can reduce the initial upfront costs.
Classroom health improves with better ventilation, low-glare lighting, and better-managed classroom temperatures. Newer HVAC equipment generates less waste and water, as well as being more economic to operate. This improves air quality and safety in the work environment. It also reduces the likelihood or severity of gaps around windows, doors, and other avenues for pests (and unmanaged air) entering the building. This directly improves the air quality and reduces (or eliminates) the need for pesticide use within the building, thus decreasing exposure of occupants to chemicals. Many energy efficiency upgrades can improve the quality of the school indoor environment, protect and even enhance indoor air quality, without sacrificing energy performance. Improving the indoor school environment leads to decreased student and teacher absences, and increasted test scores.
Good pollution prevention practices include more efficient use of raw materials, staff resources, equipment, energy, and water. Inefficiencies indicate older technologies, or equipment, HVAC systems, etc. and/or poor quality control of processes. Also, as mentioned above, staff and student productivity may be improved when the indoor environment is improved.
Schools play important roles within the community by setting examples. By implementing energy-efficient practices in both retrofits and new school constructions, parents, members of the community, and local governments appreciate the savings and the redesignation of funding for education, rather than energy costs. They may be more supportive of budgeting requests and they will incorporate the energy efficient designs in their own offices and homes. Students, teachers, staff and administrators may also more aware of their personal behaviors regarding energy consumption.