Solar energy and conservation at St. Mark's School

Abstract

This report is a result of a request to investigate the possibility of employing solar energy at a residential secondary school to reduce energy costs. Our approach was to explore this possibility in the context of a more general survey of opportunities to conserve energy (in particular, fuel) at the school. Our purpose was more to illustrate how to go about an appraisal of conservation opportunities plus implementation and evaluation of the most productive conservation measures, than a rigorous examination of the facility with detailed instructions on how to take care of specific problems. A large number of actions that would result in net energy cost savings considerably greater than could be realized from solar systems were discovered. For a solar application, a domestic hot water system,supplementing that heated bytankless coils in oil burning furnaces,has the greatest potential for significant return on investment. The school's total utility system (total energy, co-generation) meets all electrical and steam needs with the exception of the electric power required for one building. A heat recovery system on the diesel engines for the electric generators furnishes a sizeable portion of the steam. Areas discussed in detail are: (1) optimization of the efficiency of oil fueled residential heating furnaces; (2) optimized operation of a total energy system; (3) lighting, insulation, air infiltration control; (4) heat management, scheduling and control. A methodology for preparing energy audits, energy flow charts and procedures for the evaluation of the need for the amounts of energy consumed for each individual purpose are also given. The importance of considering the application of solar energy in the broader conservation context is emphasized.