School district efforts to reduce energy use begin with an energy audit to determine a baseline for future measurements. Once this is accomplished, schools can use the results of the audit to set target reductions and timetables for implementation.

The percentage of mandated reductions and the schedule for implementation should be practical and achievable. Targets can often be met or even exceeded if the program is understood and supported by students, teachers, parents and school staff. One district in Oregon reported an energy savings of almost 50% in the first year of its program.

In Mansfield, Texas, the Independent School District mandated energy reductions of 15% and exceeded those mandates in three of their schools. The Green Schools Program of the Alliance to Save Energy is achieving energy reductions of between 5 and 15 percent with their program.

As a baseline for consideration, in 2007 the U. S. Government established a schedule under which all federal agencies must reduce their total "energy intensity" by 30% by the end of 2015, relative to the baseline of the agency’s energy use in fiscal year 2003.

Resources:

The United States Department of Energy has developed a series of useful "How-to" guides for Green Schools as part of their "Energy Smart" program.

The Mansfield Independent School District website has lots of information describing their highly successful energy reduction program, called "E3."

The Alliance to Save Energy is a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders. The organization has some excellent information on energy savings at Green Schools.