Energy Audit Checklist for Schools

An energy audit checklist helps identify opportunities for reducing building energy costs. This process can be performed for any home or business type.

Make use of our smart templates to quickly turn paper forms into digital files with Smart Scan or create your own using our drag-and-drop template builder – data collected is then automatically stored in SafetyCulture cloud storage.

Identify Energy Use
Energy usage at schools largely depends on factors like lighting levels and types, air conditioning or heating usage, appliances such as refrigerators and ovens used, quality of windows and insulation materials installed and room configuration. A general energy audit can identify areas in which schools might be misusing energy resources.

Students need to be energy literate for both their safety and benefit as well as for the sustainability of their environment. Energy production and consumption affect all areas of Earth, Society, as well as individual choices and actions taken by an individual.

The ENERGE project took an integrated approach to energy efficiency in schools, including context analysis, networking and stakeholder engagement, surveys, building audit methodology implementation, the proprietary ENERGE digital platform installation and its key performance indicators, governance analyses for education system governance as well as energy literacy modules – an example of soft systems thinking as promoted in literature.

Identify High-Use Equipment
Schools seeking to reduce energy use and IAQ must first identify which equipment poses a problem by considering when, how much, and where each piece of equipment is utilized.

If odors from a school kitchen are polluting classrooms, increasing ventilation in the kitchen may help; however, more likely than not the issue lies with its temperature and how food is stored.

Schools can conserve energy by limiting how often equipment is used. For instance, stripping and waxing floors only on Friday after school lets out allows the products to off-gas over the weekend and decrease levels of air pollutants when school starts again Monday morning. Mowing grass and performing other outdoor activities should only take place either before or after school hours for best results in terms of energy savings and indoor air quality (IAQ).

Identify Low-Use Equipment
Schools typically have access to an abundance of equipment, so it’s crucial that they use it efficiently. To do this, schools need a way of tracking inventory and identifying which pieces may qualify for energy efficiency schedules or need replacement with more energy-efficient models.

An energy audit checklist is an effective tool for streamlining this process. Easy to create and customize, this list allows your school to meet its energy requirements more effectively.

Use this EPA activity to engage your students, staff, teachers, parents and community members in saving energy, supporting renewable energy solutions, and making your school more eco-friendly. It features downloadable MS Word files of action project ideas and worksheets with online calculator tools as well as 25 lesson plans from NEED, Alliance for Climate Education Facing the Future etc.

Identify Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Participation by stakeholders increases the potential for energy-saving initiatives to succeed, for instance your IT staff may know how to switch off computers when not in use while your cleaning crew may notice drafty spots in the school. Gaining their support can build energy efficiency educator’s confidence while increasing chances of initiatives being carried out consistently.

Recognizing your school’s baseline energy use is crucial in providing an idea of the potential savings from various strategies. You can do this via benchmarking or engineering audit, depending on the needs of your campus.

Lighting wastes an incredible amount of energy in schools. To minimize energy wastage, have students check that all lights are off when rooms are no longer being used and compare various levels to determine if current illumination meets room needs. Encourage school administrators to retrofit lighting with lower energy options.