Pennsylvania Schools Push for Energy Efficiency

Indiana Area School District (IASD) is moving forward with plans for $16 million in energy-efficiency improvements to its schools, maintenance buildings, and administrative buildings. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.

Following a competitive request for proposal process, the district selected Constellation, a retail supplier of power, natural gas, and energy products and services, to engineer and implement energy efficiency, water conservation, and building infrastructure upgrades to help the district reduce operating costs and increase the lifespan of its buildings.

As part of the agreement, the district entered into an energy performance contract (EPC) with Constellation. The EPC guarantees that the upgrades and conservation measures will save the district $5.6 million over 15 years, and the district reported that it will save approximately 919,000 gallons of water and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,656 metric tons over that time.

Infrastructure upgrades and conservation measures that Constellation will provide under the EPC include:

  • Energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors;
  • Low-flow toilets and faucets;
  • HVAC replacements and direct digital controls upgrades;
  • Building mechanical systems upgrades;
  • Caulking and weather stripping;
  • Roof replacements; and
  • A program to educate students and energy conservation.

"This project will improve the operation and educational environment of our schools and equip them to function efficiently for the next 20 years," said Dale Kirsch, superintendent of IASD, in a prepared statement. "The EPC with Constellation allowed our school district to accelerate the timeframe for needed efficiency upgrades. By utilizing existing capital budgets, we are also able to undertake significant infrastructure replacements without additional taxpayer revenue."

The Indiana Area School District serves 3,000 students in Indiana County in Pennsylvania and operates four elementary schools, one junior high, and one senior high school.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • blue AI cloud connected to circuit lines, a server stack, and a shield with a padlock icon

    Report: AI Security Controls Lag Behind Adoption of AI Cloud Services

    According to a recent report from cybersecurity firm Wiz, nearly nine out of 10 organizations are already using AI services in the cloud — but fewer than one in seven have implemented AI-specific security controls.

  • lightbulb

    Call for Speakers Now Open for Tech Tactics in Education: Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation

    The annual virtual conference from the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal will return on Sept. 25, 2025, with a focus on emerging trends in cybersecurity, data privacy, AI implementation, IT leadership, building resilience, and more.