Carrying the Torch: Why Energy Management Needs a Champion

I hustled into the crowded office and worked my way up to reception. Joe, a superintendent in Southern California, finally had given me ten minutes. Not because energy management was on Joe's radar, but probably just to get himself off my call list. I get it. His days are consumed with bigger issues: federal defunding, bond approvals, staffing issues, community engagement, and managing the daily chaos that landed on his desk.

So, no surprise, energy management was at the very bottom of his list. Too low on the totem pole. Who has time to think about kilowatts when you’re dealing with the homeless on your school campuses and budget shortfalls across the district?

But then the conversation shifted.

We started talking about Joe's grandkids, about how quickly they were growing up. He mentioned retirement, and that got us to the real question: who was going to carry the torch? Even if it was a small (almost invisible) flame right now, sustainability and energy efficiency still mattered. Someone had to think about what kind of legacy would be left for the district after he stepped down.

That’s when holistic energy management clicked for Joe. It isn’t just about bills or buildings, technology vendors or solar panels. It’s about creating a framework that sustains itself, one that frees up resources, strengthens culture, and makes daily operations smoother.

Here’s how it works:

1. Freeing up budget for real needs

   Every dollar saved on utilities is a dollar freed for classrooms, staff salaries, or student programs. Energy efficiency isn’t a side project. It’s a direct way to put money back into the mission.

   
   

2. Building a culture that multiplies

   When energy is managed intentionally, it shapes behavior. Staff and students notice, and those habits travel home, amplifying impact across families and communities. A single district’s efforts ripple outward.

   
   

3. Making everyone’s lives easier

   Instead of scrambling with reactive fixes, a plan provides clarity. Implementation becomes manageable: one step at a time, with fewer surprises, less stress, and more confidence.

   
   

The truth is, energy management may not feel directly tied to your daily goals. But interlinking data, people, strategy, and systems plays into nearly every aspect of running a successful institution.

So the question isn’t whether you can make time for energy management. It’s whether you can afford not to.