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EPA and DOE Recognize the First Energy Star® Labeled Schools

Release Date: 6/8/2000
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6464,

Release Date: 6/8/2000
Contact Information:
EPA 202-564-9178,

Release Date: 6/8/2000
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6603

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Recognize the First Energy Star® Labeled Schools

Washington, DC–EPA and the US Department of Energy today announce the first eight school districts in the county to receive the new Energy Star label for schools. Boulder Valley Public Schools and Academy School District 20 were among the eight districts honored for their outstanding energy performance.

Three Colorado schools in the districts were involved, including Challenger Middle School, Frontier Elementary (Colo. Spgs., Colo.) Superior Elementary (Superior, Colo.). These schools pursued cleaner technologies and significantly improved their energy efficiency, which resulted in their districts' receipt of the Energy Star label. The label awards will be presented June 14, during the Eleventh Annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

“I congratulate these schools for earning the Energy Star label,” said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. “Every year, the annual energy bill for the nation’s 115,000 primary and secondary schools is approximately $6 billion more than schools spend on computers and textbooks combined. Energy efficient schools can not only save millions of dollars, but also help protect the health and environment of all Americans by reducing pollution that contributes to global warming.”

The first eight school districts to earn the Energy Star designation are: Boulder Valley Public Schools and Academy School District 20 (CO); San Diego Unified School District (CA); New Haven Public Schools (CT); Kansas City Public Schools (KS); Columbia Public Schools (MO); McAllen Independent School District (TX); and Milwaukee Public Schools (WI). These districts include 150 schools that have achieved the Energy Star label.

Energy Star offers the only national rating system for energy performance in buildings. Labeled schools are recognized for having overall energy performance among the top 25 percent of all similar-use buildings nationally. Schools displaying the Energy Star label also meet indoor air quality targets. The health and comfort of students and teachers are among the many factors that contribute to learning and productivity in the classroom, which in turn affect student performance and achievement.

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.

For more information on the Energy Star label for schools, visit www.epa.gov/buildings; for further technical information, call Maria Vargas at 202-564-9178.