TRC’s Strategic Energy Management Drives Energy Savings and Long-Term Efficiency Across Idaho Schools
TRC in partnership with Idaho Power, implemented a comprehensive Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program to support school districts across Idaho in improving energy performance, reducing operating costs and establishing sustainable energy management practices.
Launched in 2017, the program expanded from an initial group of schools to a multi-district initiative spanning nearly a decade. Through a structured, data-driven and engagement-focused approach, TRC enabled participating schools to achieve measurable energy savings while building internal capabilities to sustain performance improvements over time.
Challenge
School districts were navigating energy efficiency without a formal energy management structure in place. There was no dedicated role responsible for overseeing energy strategy, and while facilities teams had access to equipment-level dashboards, there was limited visibility into system-wide energy performance.
A lack of baseline data and internal expertise made it difficult to interpret energy usage or understand complex utility rate structures. Districts were often operating without the insights needed to prioritize projects or make informed long-term decisions.
Cross-functional collaboration presented another challenge. Energy insights often sat within administrative or instructional roles without direct authority to implement changes. Bridging communication with facilities and operations teams required time, trust-building and new ways of working across traditionally siloed functions.
Communicating energy performance added further complexity. Districts needed to develop a clear and consistent language to engage students, staff and the broader community, moving beyond technical data to meaningful narratives.
Frequent personnel transitions created risk around continuity, with knowledge often tied to individuals rather than systems. At the same time, funding constraints typical of public schools limited the ability to move projects forward without external guidance on available incentives and funding pathways.
Together, these challenges highlighted the need for both technical expertise and organizational transformation to enable long-term energy management.
Solution
TRC designed and implemented a comprehensive SEM program combining technical analysis, stakeholder engagement and continuous performance management to drive long-term energy efficiency outcomes.
Program Design and Implementation
We led the program from onboarding through full lifecycle delivery. On-site assessments established energy baselines and tracking methodologies, while structured monthly meetings created a consistent rhythm of accountability, allowing districts to review performance, identify variances, and take corrective action over time. A core emphasis was building data literacy within districts, helping staff interpret usage patterns and act on recommendations tied to concrete energy and cost outcomes.
Cohort-Based Learning
A cohort model connected participants across districts and roles, fostering peer learning and cross-functional collaboration among administrative, instructional and facilities teams. By creating space for open discussion and shared problem-solving, we helped districts move from reactive operations to proactive, coordinated energy management.
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Our practitioners supported districts in collecting, analyzing and interpreting energy data to identify trends, establish baselines, evaluate implemented measures and prioritize future opportunities. Equal emphasis was placed on translating complex data into clear insights that could be communicated across teams and leadership.
Utility Incentives and Funding
We helped districts navigate utility incentive structures, identify eligible upgrades and coordinate between administrative and facilities teams to access available funding enabling initiatives that would otherwise remain constrained by budget limitations.
Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement was built into the program from the start, through monthly awareness campaigns, student-led green teams and staff participation initiatives. We helped districts shift from “cost savings” language to the more accurate concept of avoided costs, improving clarity and alignment across leadership and the broader community.
Continuous Improvement and Program Validation
TRC guided districts through alignment with the DOE’s 50001 Ready framework, embedding repeatable processes that were not dependent on any single individual. This strengthened documentation, supported knowledge transfer and positioned districts to sustain and build on results independently over time.
Results
Boise School District Impact
The program enabled the district to transition from fragmented efforts to a more structured and strategic approach to energy management.
Key outcomes included:
- Expanded participation from 3 to 25 schools over the program duration
- Achieved nearly 6 percent reduction in energy usage over time
- Saved more than 13 million kWh of electricity
- Received close to $100,000 in utility incentives, enabling reinvestment into school initiatives
- Adoption of a formal clean energy resolution in 2021, embedding energy goals into district policy and strategic planning
- Strengthened cross-functional collaboration between administrative, instructional and facilities teams
Program-Wide Impact
Our Strategic Energy Management approach delivered measurable and sustained results across participating districts.
Key outcomes included:
- 72 schools participated across 12 districts
- More than 36 million kWh of energy saved
- Over $2 million in energy cost savings achieved
- Approximately 14 million kilograms of CO2 emissions avoided
- Participating districts typically achieved 5 to 15 percent energy savings through implemented measures
These outcomes highlight the scalability and effectiveness of a structured and data-driven energy management approach.
Financial Impact and Funding Leverage
The program unlocked new funding pathways that were critical for capital-constrained school systems.
Key outcomes included:
- Utility incentives became a meaningful funding lever for both capital projects and operational improvements
- Improved ability to identify and access incentive programs, accelerating project implementation
- Enhanced financial decision-making through better understanding of utility rate structures
- Reinvestment of incentive funds into sustainability programs and student-led initiatives
Operational and Cultural Impact
Beyond measurable savings, the program drove a shift in how energy management is understood and practiced within districts.
Key outcomes included:
- Shift from reactive maintenance to proactive and data-informed decision-making
- Transition in internal language from “cost savings” to “avoided costs,” improving clarity and alignment across leadership
- Increased engagement from students, staff and leadership in energy-related initiatives
- Improved ability to communicate energy performance across schools and communities
Sustainability and Long-Term Capability
The program positioned districts to sustain and scale their efforts beyond initial implementation.
Key outcomes included:
- Reduced reliance on individual champions through institutionalized processes
- Improved continuity despite personnel transitions and workforce changes
- Established systems for ongoing monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement
- Strengthened internal capability to manage energy performance independently
TRC delivered a scalable and results-driven Strategic Energy Management program that enabled school districts to improve energy performance, reduce costs and build long-term operational capabilities.
By integrating technical expertise, data-driven insights and stakeholder engagement, we achieved measurable outcomes while creating lasting value for schools and the students they serve.