House Bill 264 — A 30 Year Update on Energy Conservation in K–12 Schools
Ohio House Bill 264 was enacted in 1985 to allow school districts in Ohio to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings and use the cost savings to pay for those improvements. Generally speaking, the cost of the energy conservation improvements must pay for themselves out of the energy savings within 15 years.
The law also allows school districts to issue notes, subject to some restrictions, without regard to the requirements of Chapter 133 of the Ohio Revised Code related to public debt. The debt incurred under HB 264 is not included in the net indebtedness calculation of the school district.
Since its inception, school districts across the state have utilized the benefits of this law to perform and fund energy conservation projects. These projects have saved and continue to save districts money in utility bills and operating costs. Although not exclusive, eligible projects include:
- Lighting replacements of LEDs and T-5 fluorescents
- Building automation and controls
- HVAC system upgrades
- Domestic hot water systems
- Occupancy sensors
- Energy efficient motors
- Variable frequency drives
- High efficiency kitchen equipment and exhaust fan controls
Over the past several years, various changes and modifications have been made to the process and rules for HB 264 projects. These have somewhat coincided with the oversight of these projects granted to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). Major modifications have included:
- Enactment of a specific competitive selection process and evaluation criteria
- Requirements for contractor guarantees of energy savings
- Development of common methodology for calculating energy savings
- Annual savings reporting requirements
The OFCC has information on these requirements on their website, along with sample templates for your use.
Speer Mechanical helps K–12 school districts understand and realize the necessary energy efficiency requirements to reap the benefits of Ohio House Bill 264. Visit our Energy Services page, or contact us at 614.261.6331 to learn the many ways we can help your district improve operating efficiency and save energy costs.