Smart Energy Management

District Funds Energy Conservation Program through Savings

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 07/18/18

A school district in Oklahoma has just kicked off a project to save $2.5 million in energy costs over five years by applying technology and behavior-based conservation programs. Edmond Public Schools has 17 elementary schools, six middle schools, three high schools, two alternative high school programs and an early childhood center. The school system signed the contract in June for the program, which incorporates a full-time energy manager to help monitor energy efficiencies and promote the importance of energy conservation among staff and students.

Several schools have already installed HVAC updates that has enabled the district to recoup "significant energy savings, as well as receive rebates," according to Chief Operations Office Justin Coffelt.

Now administrators will work with Cenergistic, a Texas-based energy conservation company, to audit and optimize energy-consuming systems throughout the district. The program is funded solely by the savings it generates.

"We are committed to being good stewards of public funds and since partnering with Cenergistic does not require a capital investment, it just makes sense," said Superintendent Bret Towne, in a prepared statement.