Energy & Resource Conservation

The Energy & Resource Conservation Department uses energy tracking software to capture monthly utility use and cost for each BSD facility. This information provides valuable insight into how buildings are performing, helping to identify system or building use issues that call for correction.

One reporting tool utilized through the software is a historical comparison report. This report provides a big picture view comparing current year use to the prior year. The below electricity, natural gas, water, and irrigation reports reflect district-wide use for a recent 8-month period. Contact E&RC if interested in receiving any of these reports for a specific BSD site.

Electricity Use

Our fiscal year kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption, July 2021 through February 2022, is currently 0.8% more than our 2018-2019 year usage.

Natural Gas Use

Our fiscal natural gas therm consumption, July 2021 through February 2022, is currently 13% more than our 3-year average through February 2019.

Water Use

Our fiscal water (centum cubic feet or CCF) consumption, July 2021 through February 2022, is currently 30% less than our 3-year average through February 2019.

Irrigation Use

Schools that have independent irrigation water lines include Aloha Huber, Beaver Acres, Bonny Slope, Hazeldale, Sato, Sexton Mountain, Springville, William Walker, Aloha High, Beaverton High, Mountainside High, Southridge High, and Terra Nova.

Our fiscal year irrigation water (centum cubic feet or CCF) consumption, July 2021 through February 2022, is currently 54% less than our 3-year average through February 2019.

Energy Management is a top priority at Beaverton School District. Electricity, natural gas, and water play a major role in the operation of our buildings, and energy efficient equipment directly impacts our ability to conserve these resources.

Energy efficiency projects touch many parts of a building, from LED light fixtures to major HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) upgrades. Funding for these projects ties to Bond Improvements, the Senate Bill 1149 Public Purpose Charge, General Fund dollars, and even Parent Group donations.

28 Beaverton School District schools have undergone a rigorous evaluation process to become Energy Star® rated facilities. The rating signifies that building systems run efficiently, ventilation is effective, and operational costs are in expected ranges. On average, Energy Star buildings use 35% less energy than typical buildings nationwide.

Beaverton School District was introduced to the benefits of photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays in 2011. Through a 15-year Energy Services Agreement between Kenyon Energy and BSD, 100 kW solar arrays were installed on the roof at Elmonica Elementary School, Health & Science School, and Springville K-8 School. The installations were funded by Kenyon Energy and the schools receive the energy produced at no cost.

The 2014 Bond Program has allowed BSD to expand the PV portfolio with each new or rebuilt school since the 2011 installations. Hazeldale Elementary, Sato Elementary, Vose Elementary, Timberland Middle School, and Mountainside High School have reduced energy costs because of the installed PV systems. 

Real-time solar production for each site can be monitored on the Clean Energy Bright Futures Solar 4R Schools web site. With each PV system, a kiosk is installed at the school's entrance.  This allows students, staff, and visitors to connect with the building's generation by simply touching a screen. 

Follow, and learn about, solar production at BSD by going to the Solar 4R Schools web site or clicking on a school link below.

Elmonica Elementary School
Hazeldale Elementary School
Sato Elementary School
Vose Elementary School
Springville K-8 School
Timberland Middle School
Mountainside High School
Health and Sciences school
 

Managing material is the responsibility of each individual that studies, works, or plays at our facilities. Making conscious choices to purchase wisely, reuse materials, recycle appropriately, and conserve resources reduces waste.

Furniture, equipment, electronics, and other learning materials being shed from any facility becomes surplus and is managed by the Maintenance Services Department. This surplus is warehoused and offered first to BSD schools, then other non-profit entities, and may eventually be sold with proceeds returning to support schools. 

Annually, the day-to-day management of waste at BSD facilities carries a price tag of just over $830,000. Our facilities are served by five independent waste hauling companies governed by two local jurisdictions, City of Beaverton and Washington County. These jurisdictions set the disposal rates for haulers in their respective areas.

BSD strives to reduce waste in all areas by first reducing consumption, then by reusing materials until they are near end of service, and finally by recycling to repurpose viable materials. 

The following materials are acceptable in the commingle recycling containers found at all Beaverton School District facilities.

Newspaper
Magazines
Cardboard
Scrap Paper
Aerosol Cans - Empty with plastic cap discarded
Plastic - Containers with necks, tub-type containers six ounces or larger, buckets up to 5-gallons
Aluminum
Metal Cans
Scrap Metal - Less than 30" long and less than 40 pounds

All materials should be free of food, liquid, and debris.

A separate receptacle is required for glass collection. Only glass bottles and jars are acceptable.

NO plastic bags, plastic clamshells, polystyrene, paper coffee cups or lids, frozen food boxes or trays, plastic caps or lids, straws, hot or cold drink cups, paper or plastic plates or cups, plastic utensils, take-out containers, "compostable" service ware, coffee cups or lids.

Food waste is the single largest portion of the region's waste stream and a major contributor to the creation of methane gas in a landfill.  Local governments are being directed by Metro to establish mandatory food waste separation programs for generating businesses.  Schools would be one of those generating businesses and required to separate food waste in 2022.

Through the cooperative efforts of Nutrition Services and Custodial Services staff, all eligible Beaverton School District schools have implemented food waste collection efforts.  The collection program, commonly referred to as Back of the House, captures all food not served to students or able to be donated to local food pantries, including meat, dairy, and bread.  As the name implies, only adult staff members working in the kitchen are involved in capturing the food waste.  This controlled collection produces a clean product that is free of contamination.

Beaverton School District encourages schools to participate in the Oregon Green Schools Association (OGS) program.  The OGS framework offers schools the opportunity to focus on and engage in conservation efforts that are unique to their needs. Through OGS, schools build action plans that heighten awareness, motivate, and involve the entire school community to drive change.   

The Energy & Resource Conservation Department assisted staff, students, and parents at the following schools explore OGS resulting in robust efforts to reduce waste and conserve resources.