AWWA SOURCES55626

Seattle School District (SSD), in collaboration with three of their utilities (Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy), implemented an effective multi-modal, multi-resource conservation program in their facilities. The first two years of the program conserved 139,715,180 gallons of water, 7,477,859 kWh of electricity, 451,776 therms of natural gas and, for a total cost savings of $1,438,009 to SSD. Forty-one percent of these savings were estimated to be retrofit-based. Close coordination between the involved organizations and synergistic methods of resource conservation were key to this program's success. Methods included education, capital projects, and operations and maintenance measures. Educational efforts included a shared-savings program for behavioral-based savings, resource conservation information dissemination to custodial and maintenance staff, and classroom instruction. Funding to staff the SSD with a resource conservation manager (RCM) for two years was provided by the three utilities. This was combined with auditing and incentives for capital measures provided by the electric and water utilities, ensuring the school district had the means to identify conservation opportunities and directly implement them. The utilities and SSD also supplied technical staff to the program. Relationships forged in this collaboration persisted beyond the original program. The success of the program has prompted the school district to hire the RCM after the position's initial funding expired. The utilities have continued to provide incentives as appropriate measures are identified. Finally, behavioral changes should increase persistence and expand the scope of savings beyond the school sites. Includes tables.