SECO ready to assist with energy plans

Taylor said evidence of SECO's success is its creation of an energy master plan for Round Rock ISD that went beyond energy assessments, detailing where improvements could be made in each facility.

Other entities already endeavoring to comply with SB 12 include Laredo's Texas A&M International University, which is slightly increasing its building temperatures during warmer periods while planning to moderately lower temperatures in the colder months. It will also continue recycling, maintain an irrigation system, use solar panels to fuel campus signs and sensors to turn lights off in vacant rooms.

City offices in Coppell also provide an example of energy-efficiency by using climate control, which can only be altered by one or two degrees. Low-wattage lights have been installed in city buildings, which has saved Coppell more than 11 percent in energy costs.

"Even in the best maintained facilities, there are still many opportunities to streamline and increase efficiency," Taylor said.