Hamilton Southeastern Leverages Brightly Data to Show $300,000 Savings in Annual Energy Costs

Measuring the impact of energy initiatives 

Since using Asset Essentials and Energy Manager software in 2017, HSE has taken significant steps toward measuring improvements in energy efficiency and increasing engagement across the district. 

Bob Rice, Energy Manager & Indoor Air Quality Coordinator for HSE, said that after the district switched three schools to solar power, he was able to verify the significant impact that solar power had on the district’s annual energy bill in 2023. 

I used the pre-solar energy data from prior years, so I can calculate basically how much energy I should be using versus my modern utility rate… that number was $345,000 in 2023 and we only paid $26,000. So that’s a $320,000 savings right there.

Verifying energy usage data 

According to Rice, the reports he presents to schools across the district from Energy Manager have motivated others to take action. He said, “I’ve had multiple schools come up to me and tell me they want to go solar because of the reports I’ve just shown them.” 

The reports help him “simplify the complicated.” For example, Rice was able to show that even after the district built two new elementary schools and added a 6,000 sq. ft. addition to one of the local junior highs – a combined 200,000 sq. ft. in new facilities space – HSE was still able to maintain the same level of energy use they had prior to the new construction. 

In addition to Energy Manager reports, Rice says that he also uses “Asset Essentials to show how small changes in energy management can have a huge payback and great return on investment.” 

Improving funding transparency 

Rice has created a monthly report using Asset Essentials and Energy Manager data he calls “Watt Watchers” that is helping create more transparency for funding needs and increase buy-in from key stakeholders across the district. “People can understand what we’re actually spending… when you tell somebody you need a $250,000 just to keep the lights on, having proof is great. I can use the data to work with my CFO to build a budget.” 

Engaging students to take action 

The monthly Watt Watchers program has engaged more than just staff across the district. It’s gotten students involved as well, which Rice believes is hugely important. “Many jobs that our students will have when they graduate college aren't jobs today,” says Rice, “so exposing them now to these initiatives will really benefit them in understanding what’s coming in the future.” 

Using real assets and energy from their schools has hit home for students and given them more of a reason to take initiative and begin building positive energy consumption habits. As Rice puts it, “You can always present data from a school nine states away. But if I can show the students ‘here is your actual utility bill from your school and you are impacting it,’ it's much more engaging.” 

Looking forward 

Rice believes Brightly Software will continue to play a critical role in helping HSE analyze and optimize energy usage, while identifying additional opportunities for savings across the district. For Rice, that means creating the best possible learning environments for students. 

Ultimately, it's about doing what’s best for the students and the staff.