Energy-saving tips came in abundance during a recent meeting of a group of retired professionals who volunteer with the Alabama Retirees Technical Advisory Group.

A sampling of suggestions included:

Invest in a system that makes lights go off automatically when a room is empty.

Use timers on water heaters so you can turn them off when nobody is around, like on weekends.

There’s no need to leave cafeteria lights on when lunch isn’t being served. Also, only run the overhead vent in the kitchen when needed.

Keep doors closed, including any inside doors located near outside doors.

Consider lowering tall ceilings.

Bring fans in to draw heat out when there are gaps between drop ceilings and actual ceilings.

Turn off some lights at locations where natural lighting keeps the area bright.

The list went on.

The thing is, the list wasn’t presented by advisory group professionals. Instead, it came from Russellville city schools faculty and staff. Their suggestions were presented at the conclusion of a one-day seminar presented by the advisory group.

Near the end of the seminar, the advisory group had school staff members use what they learned by conducting energy surveys to find examples of where electricity is being wasted. They also wanted suggestions on correcting the problems.

The school employees said afterward the seminar was helpful and eye opening.

“It was very informative,” said Alan Wilson, the system’s transportation supervisor. “We can really improve the cost of electricity throughout the system, and that’s a major factor for us.”

Non-profit program

The advisory group is a nonprofit Appalachian Regional Commission program. The Shoals retirees come from various fields, including engineering and accounting, and conduct energy seminars and surveys throughout North Alabama. They conduct energy surveys for various agencies, including businesses, schools and churches.

It doesn’t cost anything, but typically pays off for the entities that use the service.

That’s because their energy-saving tips save money, and their seminars teach employees how to monitor energy costs and look for examples of energy waste so workers can retain that information for the future.

Advisory group member Buster Smith said bringing the information to schools usually provides an additional benefit: Teachers can get students involved in the program. During Wednesday’s session, they discussed teaching students how to conduct energy surveys.

“Students can reenforce the concept to teachers and parents, and grow up and reenforce it at home and work,” Smith said.

He said kitchen exhaust fans in schools often pose particular problems, although workers in Russellville schools seemed to avoid that by not leaving them on all the time.

“Some fans are so strong, its suction can make it difficult to open a door,” Smith said.

The group also checks out the thresholds of doors.

“If you can see light, air is getting through there,” Smith said. Weather stripping along the bottom of doors solves that problem.

Smith also talked about “energy vampires,” which is the term he uses for electronic equipment such as computers and televisions that use energy even when they are not turned on.

He refers to vending machines as “energy hogs.” The machines keep beverages cold when nobody is around during weekends to use them. They also constantly remain lighted.

During the advisory group presentation in Russellville, they displayed a light bulb surrounded by glass. The reason for that became obvious when they discussed the difference between single- and double-pane windows. One section of glass was a single-pane window. Its temperature rose past 100 degrees. The double-pane window held steady at 86 degrees.

That helped explain that heat that is being allowed inside a building or home with a single-wide pane is much more than with a double-pane window. The same can be said for cold in the winter.

Lighting is easy

Advisory group member Oscar Moore said lighting makes up 30 percent of the energy costs in schools.

“And it’s one of the easiest things you can correct,” he added.

Moore said replacing halide lights with florescent lights saves tremendously.

Changing from the larger T-12 florescent lights to smaller florescent lights greatly reduces energy need, which means lower electricity costs.

Florescent lights are measured according to the diameter of the tubes, in increments of one-eighth of an inch. For example, a T-8 is 1 inch across. A T-12 is 11/2 inches across.

What kind of difference
can changes in lighting make? Smith surveyed the Russellville Middle School gymnasium, which has halide lights, and made suggestions for T-5 and T-8 florescent
replacements.

He formulated a plan that would have the school replace fixtures in the building, which would cost $12,860.

Smith’s suggestions would save $4,581 per year for the gym alone.

In addition, the Tennessee Valley Authority offers rebates for changing to the florescent fixtures. In this case, those would equal a $3,312 rebate.

Once you subtract the rebate from the installation cost, the school system would pay $9,548. With the savings they would have, the changes in lights would pay for itself in just over two years, Smith said.

A big reason for the savings is florescent lights put off little heat, while heat is the source of 90 percent of the power produced by halide and incandescent bulbs.

Advisory group member Robert Mitchell said heating and air-conditioning units also are examined during the energy audit.

“We see a lot of old units,” he said. “This is a good target for energy savings.”

Mitchell said cleaning the outdoor unit’s coil, alone, can increase energy efficiency by at least 10 percent.

He also looks at where the thermostat is located.

Last week’s seminar was in the city school board office meeting room. The thermostat for the room is in a closet, near a wall that can be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer than the room itself. That causes the thermostat to measure improper readings and expend more costly energy in adjusting to the room.

Another thermostat, for the back part of the building, is in the office, causing the same problem.

Insulation is another major factor, Mitchell said. Similar to the window experiment, the advisory group had a light bulb contained within various walls.

One wall was made of one-fourth inch press board that had one-fourth inch insulation. It measured 75 degrees. Another was insulated with reflective material and was 72 degrees. A third was one-fourth inch press board that was thickly insulated, and measured 70 degrees.

Mitchell said those who go through the program leave very pleased. As an example, a Tuscumbia business saved $50,000 during the past year.

“This program helps you save money and is very green-friendly,” he said.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 256-740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.