New York schools embrace energy-savings curriculum
It is no secret that school budgets are being squeezed across the United States. Apparently, the momentum behind energy efficiency programs that can help save money and put it back where it belongs -- on curriculum instead of operations costs -- is building. The New York Times reports this week that consumption across the 1,245 schools in New York City has been cut by 11 percent since 2008, through a variety of high-tech and low-tech methods.
One specific example, in Yonkers, an energy savings performance contract help pay for $18 million in capital improvements including windows and boilers. Those improvements, in turn, will help the school district keep a tight rein on operational costs in the future. In Holmdel, N.J., a more low-tech method -- sticky note reminders on light switches -- have helped the district cut its annual gas and electric bills in half.
The New York Times reports that energy performance consultants including Johnson Controls, Trane and Energy Education have seen their school-related business grow by roughly 30 percent since 2006.
David Myers, president of building efficiency for Johnson Controls, told the Times: "If we tested schools in efficient use of energy, many of them wouldn't get a passing grade."
Would your hometown school district pass the test?
[via The New York Times]
[Photo courtesy of Stock.xchng]
Related posts about schools and energy efficiency:
- U.S. school districts need a course in energy efficiency 101
- Pennsylvania school gets high marks for energy-saving plan
- IBM, New York university team on energy management for schools
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com