As the nation celebrates Energy Awareness Month in October, Batavia Public Schools are having a celebration of its own — announcing more than $363,000 savingsachieved through Energy Education program.
The $363,110savings is equal to 17.15% of the expected energy costs without the program. In environmental terms, the energy saved equates to 2702 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions being prevented, or 485 autos off the highway annually or over 69,112 tree seedlings planted and grown in ten years.
“It is particularly appropriate to celebrate our savings this month,” said Pat Browne, Director of BPS101 Buildings and Grounds. Energy Awareness Month is all about teaching people to make good decisions about the energy they use, and that’s what our program does: today, every person on our staff uses energy as needed and is careful not to waste energy. By implementing best practices for energy use throughout our system, we create savings, enhance the learning environment and retain dollars for education — it’s the right thing to do.”
The successful cost-saving program is implemented through a partnership with Energy Education, the nation’s leading organizational behavior-based conservation company whose Transformational Energy Management® process has saved more than $2.5 billion for educational and complex organizations.
Using Energy Education’s process, Batavia Public Schoolshas built a customized and sustainable energy conservation program that reduces consumption of electricity, natural gas and water through changes in organizational and human behavior.
Joe Kahleserves as District Energy Manager for BPS101. He receives intensive training from Energy Education energy consultants to determine and implement energy-saving techniques throughout the system. He conducts energy audits to ensure that students, staff and faculty are comfortable during class time and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary. Energy Education’s conservation experts work closely with Joe Kahleto audit buildings and train personnel to control energy use wherever possible. Every energy-using item in the system — including all heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, food service facilities, athletic facilities, offices and classrooms, auditoriums, cafeterias, information technology, and computer labs — receives ongoing evaluation for the best, most efficient use of energy while ensuring that the learning environment is at its best.
BPS101 has been an ENERGY STAR Partner since August 20, 2010. Recently, on August 23, 2011 BPS101 received an Energy Stewardship Plaque from Energy Education in recognition of conservation efforts.
