Elmore Co. BOE earns Energy Star Certification | Environment

Elmore County Board of Education announced today that 15 buildings have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. This recognition is presented to the most energy efficient buildings in the country.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR,” said Dr. Jeff Langham Superintendent. “Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while also helping protect our local environment. Since we began partnering with Energy Education on a serious energy conservation program we have saved $2,378,379 and the environmental impact is equal to taking 1995 cars off the street or planting 284,251 trees in our community. We are proud that our energy saving success is being recognized by ENERGY STAR.”

Earning the ENERGY STAR certification include Eclectic Elementary School, Eclectic Middle School, Elmore County High School, Holtville Elementary School, Holtville Middle School, Wetumpka Elementary School, Wetumpka Middle School, Wetumpka High School, Redland Elementary School, Coosada Elementary School, Airport Road Intermediate School, Millbrook Middle School, Stanhope Elmore High School and the Central Office. To earn ENERGY STAR certification, buildings must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency.

The cost of utilities is the second largest budget line-item for Elmore County Board of Education, and the prices for electricity, natural gas, heating oil and water have been steadily increasing. To combat these rising energy and utility costs, Elmore County Board of Education entered into a partnership with Energy Education to implement a comprehensive organizational behavior-driven energy conservation program throughout all its buildings and campuses. Energy Education guarantees the conservation program will save taxpayer dollars. Since the program was first implemented, Elmore County Board of Education has saved 28.07% on its energy and utility costs. Energy Education earned the 2011 and 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 2009 and 2010, validation at the highest level of their efforts in energy conservation and efficiency.

“Our students, staff and faculty embrace the energy conservation program at our campus,” said Kathy Terrell, Holtville Elementary principal. Her building earned one of the ENERGY STAR certifications.
“Each of us can make a difference through energy conservation, because people use energy, buildings don’t,” Terrell continued. “We are part of a daily effort to improve the environment and save money organization-wide. There are dozens and dozens of changes, large and small, that we have implemented that are saving energy without affecting our comfort or educational goals. We have all gained a real sense of accomplishment from this ENERGY STAR recognition.  Our students are learning, too, what it means to preserve precious natural resources.”

Source: Elmore County Public Schools