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KSBA School Energy Summit

Save energy, save money for the classroom

Kentucky School Advocate

February 2018

Staff report

With budget cuts looming, there is still one category of expenses where school leaders can continue squeezing out savings and preserving money for the classroom: energy. That’s why the timing is perfect for KSBA’s Second Annual School Energy Summit, April 16–17 at Lexington’s Embassy Suites.

The event – designed for energy managers, facility directors and board teams – builds on the success of last year’s inaugural summit and is focused heavily on the practical side of energy management, said Ron Willhite, director of KSBA’s School Energy Managers Project.

“Energy is the second-largest expense for most school districts and it can be managed,” he said. “We’re thrilled to be able to continue to once again offer this opportunity to school districts. The key to energy savings is having someone working at the local district level who understands these issues.”

What attendees will learn during the 2018 School Energy Summit

The summit continues the aim of helping district leaders and others understand how energy and associated costs impact the overarching goal of educating students.

State House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins will be one of the general session speakers. Adkins, a representative since 1986, was a sponsor of legislation that has been instrumental in setting the direction for school energy management.

Four workshop tracks will be offered, concentrating on skill-building and best practices: a basic track, two tracks for more experienced energy managers and a track for district finance officers.

Similar to last year, the summit features optional field trips on the first day, with two tours examining the two highest-leverage items for energy reduction. One site visit focuses on a basic lighting audit and the other tour reviews control and optimization strategies at the University of Kentucky’s central facilities control, called Delta Center. The UK tour also includes a review of the university’s communications and water processing efforts.

Among the general sessions at this year’s summit, Scott County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hub will address ways energy managers can engage district leaders in energy management. He will then moderate a roundtable session with school board members to help energy managers understand the board member’s perspective.

Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt is the closing general session speaker, focusing on impacting the learning environment. Also on the final day, winners will be recognized in the 2018 Kentucky Battle of the School Buildings, a voluntary competition to see which schools can reduce the most energy costs as determined by percentage-based reduction in energy use in calendar year 2017 over 2016.