Energy Conservation

Photo of the Rooftop Solar Array at the District's Pico Rivera Warehouse

Proposition 39 | Solar Initiative | Energy Policy

Energy Conservation

LAUSD is committed to energy conservation through a variety of projects and policies that increase energy efficiency in District facilities, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and increase conservation behavior throughout the District through awareness and education.

According to the United Nations, energy accounts for around 60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing our carbon footprint will not only save the District millions of dollars, it's also a way for the District to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

Current LAUSD Goals

Reduce energy consumption
Reduce our carbon footprint
Raise awareness about energy conservation and climate change

Numbers & Resources

550 million kWh average energy consumed annually by LAUSD

$100 million average cost of LAUSD's energy per year

67 LAUSD campuses and administrative sites use renewable energy

Resources

Where does our energy originate?

How can you conserve energy?

Energy-related Board Resolutions

Los Angeles City & County initiatives

LAUSD Energy Management Unit (EMU)

The Energy Management Unit (EMU) works closely with the Sustainability Initiatives Unit and focuses on multiple areas of energy conservation and usage. EMU interprets the complexity behind utility data in order to analyze trends in LAUSD’s energy and water consumption and provides utility reports across many departments to ensure that the District is meeting its vision and goals of transitioning to 100% clean, renewable energy. EMU also collaborates with construction teams of engineers, architects, and designers to order and process permits and/or payments for utility requests. Finally, EMU coordinates preventative maintenance for solar panel arrays at all school sites in order to keep productivity and efficiency at a high level.

Focus areas for the Energy Management Unit:

Processing billing for all utility companies servicing 1000+ LAUSD Schools and Administrative Sites.
Utility data and cost analysis, technical assistance, and budget forecasting
Utility orders and payment processing for design requests such as:
- New water and fire services
- New electric services and existing electrical infrastructure upgrades
- Gas meter installations and removals
Energy procurement through Electric Service Providers (ESPs)
Electric vehicle charging station installations and maintenance
Solar panel installations and maintenance
- Currently solar is available at 67 sites, generating approximately 20MW of electricity
Processing regulatory permits & fees
Assistance with planned and unplanned power outages

Energy Conservation Initiatives

LED Lighting Pilot at Banning High School

U.S. Department of Energy Better Climate Challenge

LAUSD is participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Better Climate Challenge to meet the challenge of setting ambitious, portfolio-wide GHG emission reduction goals by at least 50% within 10 years. DOE will provide technical assistance and opportunities to learn and share actionable best practices for carbon reduction. This new challenge provides additional opportunities for peer exchange and technical assistance to meet the urgent call to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Heroes for Zero Contest

Sustainability Initiatives Unit announces the HEROES for ZERO Contest! The contest challenges K-12 students to help make their campuses Zero Net Energy-ready.

Better Buildings Challenge

LAUSD is proud to participate in the Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge, part of a national competition to demonstrate 20% energy and water savings by 2020 in existing buildings.

Lighting Retrofits

Underway at LAUSD is a District-wide lighting retrofit program. To date, lighting fixtures have been replaced with energy efficient fixtures at 55 schools, reducing the District's yearly energy usage by more than 16 million kWh. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and Southern California Edison (SCE) support the District's efforts through rebates and "direct install" programs whereby LADWP and SCE provide and install the energy efficient light systems.

Energy Efficient Building Design & Operation

All new schools and modernization projects are designed to exceed the energy efficiency requirements of Title 24 of the California Green Code. The incorporation of leading technology in both retrofits and new school design significantly reduces the District's annual energy use. For more information on the District's High Performance Schools Initiative, click here.

Commissioning & Retro-Commissioning

District's Commissioning Group (CG) is responsible for ensuring that all LAUSD facilities energy and water efficient and meet sustainability goals, applicable codes, and industry standards. Before operation the mechanical systems of all new schools, additions, and modernization projects are calibrated to ensure they operate at maximum efficiency. Retro-commissioning applies the same systematic process to existing buildings. CG's retro-commissioning efforts aim to reduce energy and water consumption and related expenditures by ensuring all existing facilities operate in a most efficient manner. As a continuous Commissioning component, the Retro-Commissioning process will ensure compliance of new systems with the original design intent. The implementation of this program is anticipated to reduce the District’s consumption of electricity, water and gas and lower its related utility bills as well as its carbon foot print.

Innovative Technologies

The District continually works to recognize and investigate opportunities to utilize innovative and emerging technologies for energy efficient building operations, including LED lighting, wireless thermostats, lighting control retrofits, enhancements to HVAC systems, and geothermal "ground source heat pump" technology.

LADWP Refrigerator Exchange Program

LADWP's Refrigerator Exchange Program provides new energy-saving, Energy Star rated refrigerators in exchange for older model refrigerators. To date, the District has replaced more than 2,150 aging, inefficient fridges for an estimated energy savings of $150,000 per year.

Energy Conservation Awareness

The District is partnering with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Southern California Edison (SCE), and several community-based organizations to provide programs that educate and raise awareness about energy conservation. Schools that have participated in the Alliance to Save Energy's PowerSave program reduced their energy bills by over $130,000 over three years. To learn more about our partners, click here.

Proposition 39

California Clean Energy Jobs Act

Through Proposition 39 LAUSD will receive funds over a five year period to implement projects that will increase energy efficiency on our campuses. To learn more about the District's Proposition 39 initiatives, click here.

Renewable Energy Initiatives

Solar Initiative

In 2008, the Sustainability Initiatives Unit launched an ambitious photovoltaic solar energy program with the goal of energizing 21 megawatts (MW) of solar energy. To learn more about the District's Solar Initiative, click here.

Geothermal Technology

Geothermal technology, also known as "ground source heat pump," has been installed at Playa Vista Elementary School. The system utilizes the steady ambient temperature underground to regulate the temperature of buildings on site. More information can be found here.