Frisco ISD’s green initiatives have led to cost-saving, energy efficient facilities that have surprised leaders in the sustainable energy movement. Some of the green initiatives are simple to understand– such as recycling and landscaping with drought resistant plants but others are cutting –edge sustainable energy technology that has state and national energy leaders sitting up and taking notice.

Below is a sampling of FISD’s energy and “green” initiatives:

• Transportation and Building Use - FISD has a no idle policy for buses. If a bus is parked for more than two minutes, drivers turn off the engines to limit emissions. In addition, the majority of our fleet is 5 years old or newer; therefore they emit less particulate matter. FISD buses operate on ultra low-sulphur diesel. We also annually review our routes for efficiency. The district works at scheduling of events to reduce the number of facilities used on any one night.
• Pest Control and Chemicals  - When pest control for fire ants is conducted on FISD grounds, the ant bait that is broadcast is green listed. Many of the custodial chemicals used and under consideration are part of the new “Green Seal” and EPA initiatives that base ratings on reduced human and aquatic toxicity. There is no green listed disinfectant that is approved by the EPA at the moment, but these products are available in glass cleaner, air fresh and degreaser The district uses a carpet cleaning & extraction program that is utilizing only hot water, and the district conducts comprehensive restroom cleanings in the evening hours with spot treatments during the day as needed. In problematic environments such as locker rooms & natatorium areas a pressure washer type cleaning system is utilized in conjunction with a general purpose disinfectant to maintain a safe & clean environment. Steam machines are used to disinfect all football equipments before, during and after the football season as it is safe and more efficient. These machines are also used in the restrooms for disinfecting at least twice per month because it is more effective against any type of bacteria or viruses. Our cafeteria tables are disinfected after each lunch period and at the end of all lunches with a chemical from Johnson Diversey. Custodial laundry activities are conducted using an enzyme based detergent and very hot water to sanitize clothing & other soiled textiles. In addition, custodians only use lights in areas in which they are working and expect to be bulk cleaning starting in the new school year to further cut electrical costs.
• Construction - Several strategies are utilized to incorporate energy efficiency into the design of schools for the Frisco Independent School District and reduce the environmental impact of these facilities.  The buildings are arranged to allow windows in all classroom spaces.  Clerestory windows allow natural lights into corridors.  Efficient T5 fluorescent lights are specified along with occupancy sensors which turn off the lights when the spaces are unoccupied.  Classroom lights are wired to allow flexibility of the number of lamps that are on during bright days when the room receives an abundance of natural light.  Spray foam insulation is specified for the exterior walls which is highly energy efficient and eliminates air infiltration.  All projects are required to meet the City of Frisco’s green building program which requires the roof to meet the Federal Environmental protection Agency’s energy star cool roof program and the recycling of construction waste materials.  The project specifications are written to give preference to products with recycled content.  Hand dryers are utilized to eliminate paper waste.  The mechanical system utilizes geothermal wells which eliminates the need for chillers and boilers. 
• Energy Management - FISD uses an energy management system utilizing central control of mechanical and electrical systems as well as accurate data that can be used to develop plans to maximize energy conservation in school facilities. Through the district’s energy management program, many of the elementary schools have started a Watt Watchers Program.This is where the students get involved with their school to help save energy. At the middle school level, some students are involved in monitoring electoral use at their campus as Watt Watchers.  There are also plans to get an Energy Council started at the high schools.This is a branch of Watt Watchers for high school students. Here is their web page: http://www.wattwatchers.org/ In addition, the district is enrolled in the SCORE program, Schools Conserving Resources, with OnCor Electric. If we do any retrofits to lights or HVAC systems at the schools in their service areas, we will get a rebate. For example, we did a total lighting retrofit at SMS this summer. The old T12 lights in the classrooms were replaced with T8s and the Metal Halide fixtures in the gyms and auditeria were replaced with what is called a T5 HO fluorescent. These changes should reduce the electrical usage for lights as much as 30 to 40 percent as well as giving a more pleasing light. We received a rebate from OnCor Electric for the retrofit for $15,000.
• Child Nutrition - Use of disposable service ware is kept at a minimum in all FISD school kitchens and cardboard is flattened and recycled, as are cans and plastic. Also, the Child Nutrition department works closely with the architects and planners for construction and renovations to choose the most energy efficient food preparation and storage equipment on the market.
• Frisco ISD continues to attempt to be green in many practical ways. This fall the district will go to on-line registration, further reducing the use of the massive amounts of paper and manpower involved in the process. This is in line with the learning efforts involving recycling, reducing waste, reusing items and conservation.

It is Frisco ISD’s use of geothermal heating and cooling heat pump systems, however, that has recently brought the school district to the attention of area business leaders, the state comptroller’s office, and energy legends such as T. Boone Pickens.

FISD, following the example of Birdville ISD, began using underground geothermal heat pump systems to provide HVAC to schools in 2002. As the fastest growing district in the state for several years, FISD has opened multiple schools and facilities each year since 1999. The district is able to compare vast amounts of data between the high school, middle schools and elementary schools constructed prior to use of geothermal heat pumps and the schools constructed with the heat pumps, according to Director of Construction Services Cecil Cypert.

Cypert says 17 of FISD’s 28 currently operating elementary schools when compared to the older schools with traditional HVAC systems – provide the District an energy savings of 34 percent. The five middle schools have offered a savings of 51 percent compared to their older counterparts and as FISD plans to open three more middle schools in the coming year, as well as two elementary schools, the savings should increase. The districts two older high schools (though both relatively new construction) Frisco High School and Centennial High School, have traditional HVAC – the four newer high schools including Lone Star, scheduled to open next fall after serving as a ninth grade center this year,  have geothermal. The savings between the high schools are estimated at 59 percent.

FISD leaders have stressed to the public that due to the current economic climate, the district will be making even more energy-saving decisions to cut costs of school operation. The geothermal HVAC system is just one of those actions that allowed FISD to keep up with the building needs caused by tremendous student growth without huge tax increases in past years.

Other Texas schools are quickly catching on to the energy-savings of geothermal heat pump technology. Cypert says he knows there are a significant number of GHP systems in schools in the state and 45 of those are in Frisco where geothermal pumps serve entire campuses and others have been installed to serve additions at older campuses.

Cypert was able to share his knowledge of these systems and how they have saved energy and costs for Frisco ISD at the Sustainable Innovation Summit at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel this month. Hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber, Cypert was a speaker along with experts in green building, solar energy, nuclear energy and wind energy. The keynote speaker of the event was former oil man Pickens, who has spent a great part of his fortune promoting wind energy. Cypert and other FISD representatives often talk with other school officials about geothermal energy but it was unusual to be speaking in the company of experts who work on a much more global scale.

“At the summit, I thinksome were surprised at our efforts. My belief isthe presentation helpedraise awareness of the potential savings that can be realized by utilizing the geothermal technology,in terms of both energyand cost. I had an opportunity, week before last,to speakwith the state comptroller’s office by phone,relative the geothermaltechnology and other energy efficient systems thatare beingused by our district. The interviewer seemed to be surprised by all of the various technologies that we (FISD) currently utilize for energy efficiency,” he said.

“Since our decision to move forward with geothermal HVAC systemsin 2002, many other districtshave visited Frisco ISD facilities to understandmore about the installationand maintenance processes involved, among these are Dallas ISD who, as I understand it,recently bid their first geothermal project. Other north Texas districts who utilize the geothermal technologyare Birdville, Grand Prairie, Aubrey, Lake Dallas, Lovejoy, Gainesville, Little Elm, Keller, and White Settlement,” he observed.

It is difficult to estimate exactly how many schools are now using thegeothermal heat pump (GHP) technology, Cypert said. He estimates that Frisco is home to about a sixth of all the geothermal systems being used by school districts in the state, relative to the total square footage of conditioned spaces. FISD uses the design engineer whohas been designing GHP systems for schools since 1992. When geothermal heat pumps were first introduced many people preferred to stay with the tried and true HVAC systems, but as energy costs rise and cities and states demand more efficiency, FISD continues to model green energy use with geothermal heat pumps.