Roth: More green for education

The state of Oklahoma has 537 school districts. In addition to classroom resources, teachers, and administration, each and every building, room, and space requires some form of energy. And for these school districts and the state, that means a bill: a utility bill. Tulsa Public Schools, the state’s second-largest school district, has faced an incredibly challenging economic time with some green creativity. Servicing 59 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and nine high schools, you can imagine that there is a whole lot of space that requires utility and energy. Tulsa Public Schools has partnered with an organization called Energy Education Inc. to figure out how to retrofit their schools and be more efficient.

Schools see energy savings

Henry County Public Schools is seeing significant energy savings through its partnership with an energy conservation company. The system was able to reduce energy consumption by 9,561 million British thermal units (MMBTU) and avoid $219,926 in utility costs from Feb. 1 through Oct. 1, according to a school board document. “This represents a 15.6 percent reduction in energy costs compared to the same period during the prior year. The greenhouse gas reduction of 1,534 metric tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to not driving 275 cars for a year,” said a report included in the board’s agenda package for its meeting Thursday night. There was no discussion of the report during the board’s meeting. However, Bill Wingfield, the school system’s executive director of operations, said in an interview that during the fall of last year, the school system contracted with the company Energy Education Inc.

MacArthur leads TPS' energy-saving initiative

When Tulsa Public Schools launched an energy efficiency initiative in January, MacArthur Elementary School Principal Howard Wyble thought 20 percent was the absolute most that his school could slash from its utility bill. But a newly released report on the first 10 months of the program shows that MacArthur led the district in savings - slashing its costs by more than 50 percent.  "I can't believe we've saved that much. It's really amazing," Wyble said, adding with a laugh, "I just wish we could keep some of that savings here!" The green movement that is sweeping America combined with hard economic times for public schools led TPS to partner with Energy Education Inc. of Waco, Texas, in an effort to cut energy use and related costs.

Accomack County schools win award for energy-efficiency

ACCOMAC -- Staff at Accomack County Public Schools is achieving big savings with energy-efficient behavior -- and now those good habits are earning national recognition. Accomack County Public Schools has achieved a 29 percent cost savings totaling $1,227,560 in 34 months since forming a strategic alliance with Energy Education Inc., a national energy conservation company, which presented the district with its Environmental Excellence Award. 

Gainesville, Ga. schools cut utility bill

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Officials in Gainesville say an energy-savings program is improving the financial picture for the city's schools. David Shumake, assistant superintendent of instruction, says that in the last 22 months, the Gainesville school system has saved more than $800,000 on its utility bills. Shumake says the money goes back into the district's general fund.

In 2008, the district began a campaign to cut energy costs and signed a four-year contract with Energy Education Inc., a company that generally works with schools and churches to build a customized conservation program. 

Shumake predicts significant savings are ahead for Gainesville schools. He says that if the energy-savings program continues, the district projects to save about $5 million in utilities in the next 10 years.

Click here to view the original article on Energy Education Inc. 

District saves big on its energy bill

From his desk at the Duchesne County School District office, Lane Warenski can control the temperature of classrooms, gyms, and auditoriums miles away. Warenski, the district's energy specialist, monitors Duchesne County schools on a daily basis to ensure temperature guidelines are being followed. In the winter, rooms are set at no warmer than 72 degrees. Air conditioning is used only sporadically in the spring and fall, and coolers are set at 74 degrees to 76 degrees. “We keep the scheduling as tight as it possibly can be,” Warenski said. “We turn the heater on just in time to make sure the rooms are warm when the kids get there and turn it off as soon as we can. The more I learn about all of our buildings, the more I can tune in to ways to save money.” Warenski’s vigilant monitoring of room temperatures is at the heart of the school district’s energy program. In April 2007, district officials decided to begin paying a stipend to an energy specialist and sign a contract with a Texas-based consulting firm called Energy Education Inc.

Onalaska schools' energy savings top $1M

ONALASKA - Focusing on energy conservation has saved the Onalaska School District $1 million in four years, officials said Tuesday. A 2005 community survey that identified energy efficiency as a priority led to the district-wide effort to reduce gas, electricity and water consumption, Superintendent John Burnett said. "Part of it is being good stewards with tax dollars and spending that money on classes rather than watching it go up the smokestack," Burnett said. "I think people appreciate that." The school district partnered with Texas-based Energy Education Inc. for training, software and consultation in October 2006, said Doug Hauser, district energy manager.