A Data-Driven Roadmap Lowers Energy Costs Across Almost 70 Schools

Overview

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) manages a portfolio of almost 70 facilities serving almost 48K students.
As energy costs increased and state requirements evolved, the district needed a more coordinated approach to managing building performance. Through the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Decarbonizing Public Schools Program, FCPS engaged Spectrum to develop a structured K-12 energy management strategy that could standardize data, support capital planning, and build a practical path toward Net Zero Energy (NZE) and long-term decarbonization.

Challenge

FCPS had already taken steps toward sustainability, but scaling those efforts across dozens of schools introduced more operational and planning complexity.
The portfolio includes buildings of varying ages, system types, and levels of prior renovation. Without a consistent way to evaluate performance, it was difficult to compare facilities or prioritize investment across the district.

Approximately 80% of FCPS buildings were operating above the national median EUI, which pointed to widespread inefficiency across the portfolio. That gave FCPS an opportunity to lower energy costs, target the highest-need facilities first, and support capital planning with measurable performance data.

At the same time, Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) require public institutions (for K-12 non-school buildings) to reduce emissions and improve building performance over time, increasing the urgency for a more coordinated and measurable approach. 

Energy data existed across individual schools, but it was not consistently structured for portfolio-wide analysis. Tracking relied on manual processes, making it difficult to compare buildings, identify trends, or prioritize improvements at scale.

Key challenges included:

• Limited visibility into building-level energy performance
• Inconsistent data tracking across facilities
• Difficulty prioritizing capital improvements across a large portfolio
• Rising utility costs, which increased by approximately 65% to over 100% between 2015 and 2025
• Long-term goals for Net Zero Energy and decarbonization by 2040

These challenges are common for large school systems managing multiple facilities without a consistent framework for comparing performance or planning investments.

 

Solution

Spectrum Energy developed a structured, portfolio-wide approach focused on standardizing data, prioritizing investments, and supporting long-term planning.

1. Portfolio Benchmarking and Data Framework

• Benchmarked all facilities using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®
• Defined consistent performance metrics, including Site EUI, cost per square foot, ENERGY STAR Score, and total energy cost
• Established a repeatable process for monthly utility data tracking and reporting
• This gave FCPS a consistent basis for comparing buildings and identifying performance gaps.

2. Three-Tier Planning Framework

• Spectrum applied a three-tier structure to ensure recommendations were relevant across the full portfolio:
  • New construction and full renovations
  • Major system upgrades and partial renovations
  • Existing building performance improvements
  • This structure allowed FCPS to align energy strategies with different project types and capital planning timelines.

3. Facility Prioritization and Performance Targeting

• Identified buildings with the largest gap between current and target EUI
• Flagged facilities with the highest potential for cost and energy reduction
• Established portfolio-level performance targets to guide decision-making
• This reduced the risk of investing in lower-impact projects and helped focus resources where they could have the greatest effect.

4. Energy Efficiency and System Evaluation

• Evaluated HVAC systems, lighting, controls, and building envelope performance
• Identified operational improvements that could be implemented with minimal cost
• Applied lifecycle cost analysis to compare long-term value, not just upfront cost

5. Renewable Energy and Electrification Strategy

• Screened facilities for solar PV and geothermal feasibility
• Evaluated system compatibility, electrical capacity, and operational constraints
• Assessed ownership models including PPA and direct ownership
• Analysis indicated that select schools could potentially offset up to approximately >100% of energy use through on-site solar, depending on site conditions.

6. Funding, Policy, and Compliance Alignment

• Connected recommended projects to MEA funding, utility incentives, and financing options
• Provided updates to FCPS Energy Policy 204.1 and Regulation 200-18
• Aligned with IAC guidelines
• Followed MD Annoted Code 
• This ensured that future projects could move forward with clearer funding pathways and stronger documentation.