Wa-Nee Community School administration and board members have taken a proactive step in good stewardship of energy and taxpayer dollars by embarking on a comprehensive energy conservation and management program with Energy Education. Energy Education is a national company whose energy conservation programs have saved more than $1.7 billion for public school districts.
Wa-Nee’s program began February 2010. The district has hired Lisa Streib as our Energy Education Specialist who will receive intensive training from Energy Education personnel to implement conservation procedures in all district facilities. The Energy Education Specialist will conduct energy audits to ensure that students and teachers are comfortable during class time and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary. District Energy Education Specialists are responsible for helping to motivate everyone in the district to use energy wisely, keep classrooms comfortable, take advantage of daylighting and practice other smart energy strategies.
Quote from Superintendent Joe Sabo:
“Conserving energy and saving money currently used for energy costs is critical, especially now that our funding from the State has been significantly reduced.”
All costs of the Energy Education program come from the district’s existing utility budget, with savings projected to more than pay for the program. Additional savings can be redirected to other parts of the district’s budget. Many districts have credited this program with helping keep personnel and maintain programs that otherwise would have fallen victim to budget cuts. In addition, Energy Education provides free support after the paid term of the contract, as long as the district continues to implement the program. The district’s energy savings continue for many years.
As a key part of the program, the district Energy Education Specialist will track energy consumption including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel oil using energy-accounting software. The software compares current energy use to a baseline period and calculates the amount of energy that would have been used if conservation and management practices had not been implemented. It adjusts for weather, equipment additions or deletions, and changes in building use. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, the software helps the Energy Education Specialist quickly identify and correct areas that need immediate attention.
Energy Education’s innovative Transformational Energy Management Process™ trains client personnel to implement behavioral and organizational change that substantially reduces energy consumption without the purchase of new equipment. The program is funded solely and rapidly by the savings it generates, allowing clients to redirect saved energy dollars to other priorities. Dallas, Texas-based Energy Education was named 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 23 years, the company has worked with nearly 1,000 educational and ministerial organizations, helping clients save over $1.7 billion in utility costs.
For more information on Energy Education please contact:
Jan Noel-Smith, Director - Public Relations 940.767.1500 ext 137 or visit the Energy Education website at http://www.energyeducation.com