Texas School for the Deaf

PROGRESS REPORT

The Texas School for the Deaf's (TSD) facilities management, maintenance, housekeeping and janitorial services were statutorily transferred to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) during the 82nd and 83rd Legislative Sessions. While TFC controls the day to day upkeep of buildings and infrastructure equipment on campus, TSD still pays the costs of monthly utilities consumed on the 66 acre campus which covers 42 building structures and over 550,000 square feet of conditioned interior space. However, TSD has been informally working in concert with TFC for the last 10 years developing energy conservation and cost reductions strategies that result in more efficient energy use and a better value to the taxpayers of Texas. With the utilization of Deferred Maintenance (DM) funds appropriated to TFC by the Legislature for use on the TSD campus, TSD has greatly benefited from millions of dollars in capital improvements to numerous electrical, water and other infrastructure systems across campus.

Additionally, TSD takes the following actions to effectively manage utility resources:

1. Set thermostats at 68 degrees when heating and 78 degrees when cooling.
2. Encourage employees to turn lights out when leaving unoccupied areas.
3. Encourage employees to turn off computers at the end of their workday.
4. Encourage employees to wear appropriate attire for the weather conditions.
5. Discourage the use of space heaters whenever practical.
6. Discourage coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators, and other small appliances except in designated areas.
7. Replace lightbulbs with LED lights whenever possible.
8. Fleet fuel savings— combine trips to reduce total miles driven.
9. Fleet fuel savings— additional emphasis on our preventative maintenance program.
10. Fleet fuel savings— further education of employees of fuel-efficient operating practices.
11. Fleet fuel savings— use of vans in place of buses for transporting work program students.

Due to periodic school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 reporting years were not an adequate metric to properly evaluate TSD's energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. However, utility utilization has decreased due to TSD continuing to install more efficient lighting systems, HVAC systems, automatic door closers for campus security, and continuing an aggressive evening schedule to ensure peak performance of campus MEP systems.

GOALS

Utility Target Year Benchmark Year Percentage Goal

Water 2025 2022 3%

Electricity 2025 2022 3%

Transportation Fuels 2025 2022 3%

Natural Gas 2025 2022 3%

** Note that 2020 is not a good year for comparative purposes since the TSD school campus was generally closed to students and staff during COVID. As a result, TSD has selected 2022 for the benchmark year for all utilities **

STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS

The most significant factors involve continuing capital improvement projects for the infrastructure and facilities systems. For example, all exterior doors are being converted to auto-close with magnetic door locks (closed campus for security reasons), low efficiency windows are being upgraded and replaced, exterior facade improvements such as caulking and tuck-pointing of brickwork to eliminate conditioned air loss, replacement and upgrading of most HVAC systems across campus buildings, installation of programmable thermostats, installation of low flow water faucets, sinks and toilets, roof repairs/replacements, complete upgrading of central power plant systems and controls (cooling towers, boilers, hot water storage tanks), and electrical upgrades including primary and secondary switchgear replacements. These efforts have been ongoing since 2016.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Total agency utility usage has been reduced year over year for the past six years with the aforementioned capital improvements across campus resulting in immediate cost savings and efficiencies as outdated systems are modernized. However, it is important to understand that with increasing student enrollment on a residential campus there will be situations in which utility usage for commodities such as water may increase from time to time, or experience dramatic decreases in utilization such-as when the campus was closed to residential students for much of the COVID pandemic or during extreme weather events. Additionally, with increased student numbers it should be understandable that bus fuel usage may increase if the number of bus routes is increased across the Tri-County area in and around Austin. The chief financial officer reviews monthly and quarterly utility costs as a standard component of TSD's budget administration. However, it should be noted that energy and fuel costs have increased significantly since January 2021 as increased inflation costs continue to adversely impact all levels of the economy (since inflation is cumulative and ongoing, not just nominal in stated terms). Despite these challenges, TSD will continue its efforts to reduce overall utility and energy consumption on campus.

AGENCY FINANCE STRATEGY

By state statute, TSD is completely dependent upon TFC successfully requesting and receiving state appropriations during each legislative session for additional deferred maintenance activities to be supported on the TSD campus. TSD is, however, in the midst of a multi-year comprehensive facilities master plan, and as such, has received funding during the 85th, 86th and 88th legislative sessions for three phases of new construction activities on campus (new central services building, new early childhood education center, traffic circulation and security improvements, classroom enhancements, new student dormitories, etc.) that implement current best practices to maximize energy efficiencies. TSD's most recent Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) during the 88th Legislative Session resulted in TSD securing more than $56 million in exceptional item funding for the construction of new energy efficient classrooms and transitional apartments for our ACCESS transitional adult (ages 18-22) student group. Architectural and engineering planning began in January 2024 with construction starting in January 2025. In August 2024, TSD submitted its LAR for the upcoming 89th Legislative Session, in which an exceptional item funding request for $35.3 million was submitted for consideration to address necessary upgrades to the TSD's central plant, site distribution piping and building pump systems.

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS PLAN

TSD offers an extensive number of public awareness posters on effective energy conservation strategies in common areas around campus for the benefit of both students and staff. Additionally, monthly utility billings are reviewed for accuracy by business office staff to identify any adverse trends or inappropriate usage increases or decreases. TSD has 24/7 security officers on staff that routinely patrol all areas and buildings on the campus, frequently securing doors ajar, unplugging unnecessary appliances, and quickly alerting TFC maintenance staff of any water leaks or major equipment malfunctions.