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NINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EIGHT STATES HONORED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXCELLENCE

Release Date: 06/13/2000
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EPA Deputy Administrator Mike McCabe and the U.S. Department of Energy will announce tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. at the National Press Club in Washington the first nine school districts to receive the new ENERGY STAR label for schools. These districts are being recognized for their outstanding efforts to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The 150 schools in these districts will be recognized at the Eleventh Annual Energy Efficiency Forum.

Nationwide, the least energy-efficient schools use nearly four times as much energy per square foot as the schools with the best energy performance. Schools that make energy-efficiency improvements cut their energy costs by 25 to 30 percent on average. Schools can redirect dollars saved from using less energy to address other important issues.

“I congratulate these schools for earning the ENERGY STAR label,” said McCabe. “The annual energy bill for the nation’s 115,000 primary and secondary schools is approximately $6 billion – more than is spent on computers and textbooks combined. Energy efficient schools not only save millions of dollars, but help protect the health and environment of all Americans by reducing pollution contributing to air pollution and global warming.”

The first nine school districts to earn the ENERGY STAR designation are: San Diego Unified School District (Calif.); Academy School District 20 and Boulder Valley Public Schools (Colo.); New Haven Public Schools (Conn.); Kansas City Public Schools (Kan.); Columbia Public Schools (Mo.); McAllen Independent School District (Texas), Milwaukee Public Schools (Wis.), and Marion Public Schools (W.Va.).

To earn the Energy Star label, schools must also meet important indoor air quality targets. Improvements in indoor air quality help ensure a healthy and comfortable learning environment.

The ENERGY STAR label for schools is the latest in a series of EPA common sense, market-based partnership programs that spur investments in more energy efficient, cleaner technologies. Beginning with the ENERGY STAR label for computers in 1992, ENERGY STAR has expanded to include major appliances, residential windows, lighting fixtures, consumer electronics, heating and air conditioning systems, office equipment, office buildings, homes and now, schools.

The details of the honor ceremony tomorrow are:

DATE: Wednesday, June 14

TIME: 8:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Grand Ballroom
National Press Club
14th and F Streets, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

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