| This study was designed to investigate the relationship between management skills and attitudes exhibited by principals in the prediction of efficient energy utilization. The study examined the differences between the management skills and attitudes of principals on low, moderate, and high energy utilization/consumption campuses. The sample included elementary, middle, and high school principals employed by the Houston Independent School District, Texas, during the 1985-86 academic year.;A questionnaire, the Survey of Energy Management, was administered to 51 school administrators to determine how they perceived their attitudes and management skills in relation to energy management. The instrument considered energy utilization on the respective campuses and opinions regarding energy conservation management and training procedures.;An analysis of the opinions of school administrators in high, low, and moderate energy utilization groups indicated minor differences in their concepts of management and their attitudes toward energy management. Notable findings from the high and low energy utilization groups supported staff, student, and administrative involvement in conservation, better training programs, and the need for improved record keeping procedures and maintenance information. Principals agreed that conservation efforts could be evaluated, incentives were motivational, and more resources were needed. Principals strongly opposed the movement of energy management controls to an off-campus location (although none had such a system).;Recommendations included: (1) training in facility management (energy conservation) for principals responsible for efficient energy utilization, (2) review of incentive policies, (3) standardization of equipment/operations checklists, (4) involvement of teachers and students in conservation efforts, (5) education of principals in energy management systems, (6) education of principals in thermostat controls, (7) conservation training for staff members employed in high energy utilization areas (i.e., shop), (8) increased utilization of energy conservation staff members, (9) evaluation and revision, if necessary, of conservation information better meeting the comprehension levels of employees, and (10) further study to determine how the administrators' management routines actually differ from their perceptions of their management routines. |
