This
recognition is given to the most energy efficient buildings in the country.
The
schools were recognized at the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education meeting
on April 10.
“We
are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR,” said Dr. Kelli Mather, chief financial
officer. “Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while
also helping protect our local environment. We are very proud of our
conservation success and honored to be recognized by ENERGY STAR.”
Buildings
earning ENERGY STAR certification were:
Banneker
Elementary
Bethel
Elementary
Caruthers
Elementary
Claude
Huyck Elementary
Douglass
Elementary
Emerson
Elementary
Eugene
Ware Elementary
Frank
Rushton Elementary
Grant
Elementary
Hazel
Grove Elementary
J.F.
Kennedy Elementary
Lindbergh
Elementary
Mark
Twain Elementary
New
Chelsea Elementary
Noble
Prentis Elementary
Parker
Elementary
Stony
Point South Elementary
T.A.
Edison Elementary
Welborn
Elementary
W.A.
White Elementary
Northwest
Middle
Rosedale
Middle
West
Middle
F.L.
Schlagle High
Sumner
Academy of Arts and Science
Wyandotte
High
To
earn ENERGY STAR certification, buildings must rate in the top 25 percent
nationwide for energy efficiency.
Since the implementation of
the Energy Education program in September 2009, the district has realized a
savings of more than $3.6 million. In a lagging economy, this savings has
helped maximize funds available for classroom instruction, programs, and
maintaining personnel.
The key to the success of the
program lies in educating staff. Energy Savings Specialists Malinda Threadgill and Curtis Stevenson have worked at
building relationships with staff, students, and the community to achieve this
goal.
They have focused on simple
conservation efforts that add up to big savings and support a cleaner
environment. Staff have worked at turning off unnecessary equipment and lights,
closing shades, and using energy efficient light bulbs.
They also have changed
negative energy savings behaviors such as opening classroom windows or blocking
open playground doors during recess.
In addition to ensuring that all buildings
are properly shutdown during periods of non-occupancy, they also work during
occupied times with staffs on comfort issues and improving communications
between buildings and maintenance departments.
To date, the Energy Education
program has surpassed its original projected savings by more than $400,000. If
the program continues at this pace, it will result in energy savings equivalent
to $23,268,000 over a 10-year period.
“People
use energy – buildings don’t, so it’s up to each of us to focus our efforts on
conserving,” Mather said. “Our staff is to be commended for the dozens of
changes, large and small, they have adopted to make this program a success. And
these lessons we learn can certainly be passed along to our students.”
According
to ENERGY STAR, U.S. school districts spend $6 billion combined each year on
energy and in most districts, more money is spent on utility bills than any
other budget item except salaries.
The good news is significant conservation
savings are possible.
ENERGY STAR reports that the top energy-performing
schools use three times less energy than the least efficient schools.
