Uncovering energy use patterns of public primary and secondary schools through district-wide benchmarking

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-15-2025

Abstract

School buildings serve as critical infrastructure for the education and development of students worldwide. Yet, many facilities face persistent challenges related to deferred maintenance and poor energy performance, affecting operational costs, occupant comfort, and environmental impact. This study aims to systematically evaluate and benchmark energy performance across 55 public primary and secondary school buildings within a single district in Louisiana, USA. A multi-method benchmarking framework was developed. Monthly utility data, along with weather and architectural characteristics, were compiled to calculate Energy Use Intensity (EUI) metrics. A Python-based Change Point Model (CPM) was applied to normalize weather influence and characterize building-level energy trends. Correlation analysis examined the effects of building attributes such as age and floor area. ENERGY STAR Scores and EnergyPlus simulations established reference baselines based on building type and energy code versions. On-site heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) assessments incorporated operational conditions into the evaluation. Results reveal substantial variation in energy performance, with annual EUI ranging from 0.269 to 0.958 kWh/(Day·m2)—a more than threefold difference among schools operating under the same conditions. Simulation-based benchmarking indicates that 85 % of the schools exceed the energy use of their code-compliant baselines, with 7 % consuming more than double the allowable limits. These findings demonstrate energy and cost savings potential through targeted retrofits and improved management. This study introduces a novel district-level framework that integrates simulation, weather-adjusted analytics, and field observations to guide energy retrofits and policy planning in educational buildings.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Building Engineering

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