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Energy savings empower schools' program
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - September 16, 2009)
Energy savings empower schools' program
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Chardon School District has been recognized for a new program that has reduced its energy consumption over the past 16 months. The district received an Award for Energy Stewardship from Energy Education this week.
District spokesperson Ellen Ondrey said the amount of pollution the district reduced by cutting its energy use is the equivalent of removing 136 cars from the road. Those energy savings also represent planting and watching 19,411 pine trees grow for 10 years, she said.
The award recognizes the school's efforts to implement an innovative, people-oriented energy-conservation-and-management program, Mrs. Ondrey said.
Energy Education, which is a partner with the school in the program, is a national company whose energy conservation programs have saved more than $1.5 billion for education and ministerial organizations since 1986.
"Chardon Local Schools, Superintendent (Joseph) Bergant, the board members and administration are demonstrating wise fiscal and environmental stewardship by implementing this unique people-oriented energy conservation program," Dr. William Spears, chief executive officer and founder of Energy Education, said. "Using human resources to reduce energy use saves natural and financial resources for the organization and community."
Mrs. Ondrey said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that every kilowatt hour not used prevents the emission of 1.5 pounds of carbon dioxide, 5.8 grams of sulfur dioxide and 2.5 grams of nitrogen oxides.
In the first 16 months of the program, she said, Chardon schools saved 1,652,696 kilowatt hours, the equivalent of 759 metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions being prevented.
Mr. Bergant said the savings must be credited to the entire staff.
"This energy program is an excellent vehicle to assist our district personnel in practicing good stewardship of our resources," Mr. Bergant said. "The willing participation of virtually every staff person -- teachers, administrators, food service, maintenance and custodial people -- adds to our success."
Linda Pemtilla, the district's energy education specialist, receives intensive training from Energy Education specialists to implement conservation procedures in all of the system's facilities, Mrs. Ondrey said.
Ms. Penttila conducts energy audits to ensure that students and teachers are comfortable during class times and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary, Mrs. Ondrey said.
"She works hard to motivate everyone in the district to use energy wisely, keep classrooms comfortable and practice smart energy savings," Mrs. Ondrey said.
She said Energy Education's innovative "transformational energy management process" trains clients to implement behavioral and organizational change that substantially reduces energy consumption with 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, she said.
Energy Education, based in Dallas, received a 2009 Energy Star Partner of the Year award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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