Extracurricular :: For technologists who do their homework
As seen in these three case histories—described in detail in our special GreenSchools section starting on page 27—the district-vendor relationship is comingtogether on K-12 campuses to reduce energy usage and its associated costs.Taunton Public Schools/Energy Education
BACKGROUND: Energy Education says schools that follow itsprogram can expect a 20 to 30 percent reduction in energy spending. The company drew upa conservation plan for Taunton Public Schools (MA), which the district implemented in 2006.
ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS:
Roughly $30,000 per month since the program was launched.
Projected to total $1 million by midsummer.
3,533,705 kilowatt hours since implementation, equivalent to...
- 2,233 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions prevented
- 483 passenger cars not driven for a year
- 254,308 gallons of gasoline not consumed
- 57,252 tree seedlings grown for 10 years
Tolleson Union High School District/Endexx
BACKGROUND: Tolleson Union High School District (AZ) produced about 500 notebooks ofprinted materials each year for its school board's biweekly meetings. The production of these"board books" consumed 125,000 sheets, or 250 reams, of paper per year. This year, thedistrict adopted Endexx's Visual Board Books, a paperless solution.
ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS:
- 35 to 40 percent of costs associated with creating printed materials for board meetings
- 500 to 800 pounds of paper a year
- 2,500 reams of paper over 10 years, equal to 150 trees
Top of the World Elementary School/Borrego Solar
BACKGROUND: Top of the World Elementary School (CA) decided to go solar in 2003, enlistingthe work of Borrego Solar. The effort was fully operational in April 2006.
ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS:
- $40,000 in the system's first year, an overall reduction in energy costs of about 30 percent
- 67,000-plus kWh hours since installation-- enough energy to power 312 homes for one week
- 135,000 pounds of greenhouse gases since installation