Over the period of one year Northwest Allen County Schools were able to save approximately $700,000 in utility costs. Methods to get to that point were closing doors to keep the heat inside, adjusting the hours buildings are being heated and lid as well as shutting off the light when one left the room. These small changes were a consequence of the help of Energy Education Inc., an energy education company, which helps large churches, universities, colleges and school districts, reduce their utility consumption and with that, their utility bill. The school board hired the company in 2009 leading to employing Dave Hey, the former Carroll High School Athletic Director, as the energy education liaison with the Dallas based company.
Energy Education Inc guaranteed the school board that if the savings are not as high as the costs. It would make up the difference from its own pocket. The primary reason for utilizing Energy Education’s services was to save money but another major reason included raising awareness on how much they would contribute to the environment. The savings the school made added up to preventing 6,044 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Next to decreasing the amount of CO2 these savings are also equivalent to removing 1,085 automobiles from the streets for an entire year. These results are significant compared to the small changes taken. “You’re just not cognizant of these things until something like this comes along.” Hey Dave Hey was astonished by these numbers.
