Energy Efficiency and 

Conservation

Michael Barancewicz CEM

Certified Energy Manager® (CEM®) - a DOE Recognized Program

Loudoun County Public Schools

1002-C Sycolin Road, SE | Leesburg, VA 20175

571-233-3883 Cell

2018 EIA Energy Conference

June 4-5 • Washington, DC 
WHAT WE WILL COVER

• Why Loudoun County Public Schools 

(LCPS)?

• Energy Vision

• Policy

• Approach

• Energy Mission

• Four Critical Partnerships
Why is LCPS a reliable source?

2014 Governor's 

Environmental 

Excellence Award for 

demonstrated 

commitment to the 

stewardship of 

Virginia's natural 

resources through 

sustainability 

initiatives.

2014 - First annual 

Metropolitan 

Washington Council 

of Governments 

Climate and Energy 

Leadership Award for 

outstanding efforts to 

reduce greenhouse 

gas emissions and 

increase energy 

efficiency.

2018 ENERGY STAR 

Sustained Excellence 

for continued 

commitment to 

increasing energy 

efficiency through the 

creation of an energysaving culture among 

students, staff 

members, and 

parents.

VSBA 2014 Green 

School Division for 

implementation of 

specific environmental 

policies and practical 

actions that reduce the 

carbon emissions 

generated by both the 

local school division 

and the broader 

community. 
Through its International Awards Program, the Association of Energy 

Engineers (AEE) acknowledges the important achievements being 

made in energy and shines the light on the work being done in energy 

by individuals, organizations, agencies, and corporations. Loudoun 

County Public Schools was presented with the International 

Award for Institutional Energy Management in 2016.

This award is presented to a public sector institution, agency, or 

organization such as City, County, State, or Federal; a University or K12 (kindergarten through 12th grade, either public or private), etc. for 

outstanding accomplishments in developing, organizing, managing and 

implementing its comprehensive energy management program, and for 

superior service to the Association. There is only one winner of this 

award each year.
LCPS Leadership – ENERGY VISION

Senior Leadership supports efficient use of resources 

allowing for a higher percentage of public funds to be 

devoted to instruction, rather than to operation of facilities.

“EVERY DOLLAR THAT PAYS AN UNNECISSARILY HIGH 

ENERGY BILL COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT FOR A MUCH BETTER 

PURPOSE-TEACHING CHILDREN.”

School district administration makes it clear in policy 

documents that effective use of natural resources is the 

responsibility of everyone connected with the school 

system.
POLICY §6-41 Construction/Energy

High Performance Design and Construction for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact

Environmentally sustainable design, construction and operational practices benefit Loudoun County Public Schools 

facilities by increasing or improving energy efficiency, interior comfort and occupant productivity, as well as 

reducing operation and maintenance costs. The development of LCPS Best Practices is accomplished by assessing 

and integrating sustainable methods, building components and technologies into every aspect of a project’s 

development and operational life cycle.

The Loudoun County School Board shall implement sustainable practices in environmental quality, water and energy 

consumption, products, materials, and waste management in new facilities and school renovation projects. 

Implementation of LCPS Best Management Practices (BMP) shall be consequent to continual evaluation of the 

dynamic industry guidelines and recommendations. Particular standards or practices may be applied or adopted in 

whole or in part as provided in publications such as:

1.United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Energy Star Program 

2.United States Department of Energy - National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools 

3.Virginia Department of Education - Virginia Public School Facilities Guidelines 

4.American Society Of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) - Advanced Energy Design Guide for 

K-12 School Buildings 

5.Green Globe Design - Green Building Initiative 

6.LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) - LEED for Schools 

7.The Collaborative for High Performance Schools - Best Practices Manual 

Independent verification of LCPS BMPs shall be performed during the Pre-Construction, Construction and PostConstruction phases. An independent Commissioning Agent (Cx) shall verify incorporation of design parameters by 

architectural and engineering professional service contractors. Further, the Cx shall verify compliance with BMP 

design during construction. Facility operations and systems performance shall be monitored, measured and verified 

via the EPA Energy Star Program.

Loudoun County Public School Policy
POLICY §6-42 Energy and Water Management/Conservation 

The Loudoun County School Board is committed to the conservation 

of energy and water resources while maintaining safety, education, 

and productivity throughout the school system. 

Reductions in energy and water consumption result in positive 

environmental impact, extend the life of equipment, produce 

reductions in utility costs and increase funds available for resources in 

the classroom. 

It is the policy of the Loudoun County School Board to ensure that 

every effort is made to conserve energy and water resources while 

exercising sound financial management. 

The judicious use of all energy and water using systems of each 

campus will be the responsibility of all Loudoun County Public 

Schools facility users and all are expected to ensure that an 

efficient posture is maintained on a daily basis.

Loudoun County Public School Policy
What is Energy Efficiency?

• Energy Efficiency is the ability to capitalize on new 

technologies and equipment that will accomplish desired 

outcomes while using less energy. Giving people more 

efficient tools allows those who are already conserving to use 

less energy when energy needs to be expended.

• It is essential to have the cooperation of all students, staff, 

parents and other community members who make up the 

totality of individuals who utilize LCPS sites for energy 

efficiency to be successful.

Loudoun County Public Schools Approach
What is Energy Conservation?

• Energy Conservation is the ability to capitalize on behavioral 

practices which allow LCPS to simply use less energy with 

existing resources. The tools used include: ingenuity, 

resourcefulness, discipline, procedures, volunteerism, and 

commitment.

• It is essential to have the cooperation of all students, staff, 

parents and other community members who make up the 

totality of individuals who utilize LCPS sites for energy 

conservation to be successful.

Loudoun County Public Schools Approach
STRUCTURE

ENERGY 

EFFICIENCY

ENERGY 

CONSERVATION

Loudoun County Public Schools Approach

POLICY

Credit given to Kevin Lewis – Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, Loudoun county Public Schools
POP QUIZ!

Identify the picture that represents ENERGY CONSERVATION.
The LCPS Energy & Environment Program will reduce the 

use of energy throughout the school system without 

impacting the educational environment while ensuring 

efficient and effective stewardship of public resources. 

Education

Safety and Security

Productivity

One Core Objective: Develop and Maintain 

Professional and Industry Contacts

LCPS Energy & Environment 

Team Mission
LCPS partner since 1993

Cenergistic helps organizations reduce consumption of electricity, 

natural gas, fuel oil and water. 

The Cenergistic approach to energy conservation optimizes 

infrastructure to reduce consumption, improves internal processes 

and changes behavior to ensure that savings endure. 

• Provides a conduit for communication with other school system energy 

managers nationwide.

• Gives LCPS access to nationally recognized industry experts in all 

fields of energy conservation and efficiency.

• Makes LCPS aware of innovative techniques and technologies used in 

school systems throughout the US. Example is ENERGY STAR

ACTION: SECURE EXPERTISE
14

Overall Program Cost Avoidance
LCPS partner since 1998

ACTION: BECOME A ENERGY STAR 

PARTNER

A building earning an ENERGY STAR Building Certification has 

met strict energy performance standards set by the EPA and uses 

less energy, is less expensive to operate and causes fewer 

greenhouse emissions. To qualify for ENERGY STAR Building 

Certification, a building must score in the top 25 percent based on 

the EPA’s National Energy Performance Rating System. 
ENERGY STAR Score Cards
17

• Holds energy use information back to 1992.

• Allows for base line use comparisons

• Incorporates weather adjustments into data

 Creates a standard for performance measurement

• Produces detailed energy use & cost reports

• Provides M&V on the effectiveness of energy 

management activities within the district. 

• Utilizes the IPMVP –international performance 

measurement and verification protocol.

LCPS partner since 1993

ACTION: UTILIZE ENERGY 

ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
25 years of Energy Information

1993 - 27 Schools 

2018 - 90 Schools

Over 11,000,000 Square foot of space
19
20

Internal and external stakeholders are

our most important partners.

• Construction

 Facilities Services

• Business & Financial Services

• Digital Innovation

• Planning & Legislative Services

• Transportation 

• Food Service 

• Safety & Security

• Staff

• Custodians

• Teachers

• Students

• Teachers

• Community Members

• Elected Officials

ACTION: MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY 

YOUR PARTNERS
21

By having everyone take part in the 

energy conservation program, an 

empowering alliance in the 

organization is created that keeps 

energy costs within our control.
STAKEHOLDERS/PARTNERS
If you are not harnessing human ingenuity to efficiently 

use energy, you may find that it is harming your Energy 

Efficiency efforts!