Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Lawrence County Schools Conservation Program Saving Energy Dollars
Lawrence County Schools administration and board members announced today that the system has saved more than $285,379 in the first 10 months of its energy conservation and management program.
The successful cost-saving program is implemented through a partnership with Cenergistic, a leading behavioral and organizational behavior-based energy conservation company whose energy management program has saved more than $3.0 billion for educational and complex organizations.
In addition, the energy conservation program has also impacted our community with savings of 2 million kWh in electricity.
These savings are equal to 914 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions being prevented, or 191 autos off the highway annually or over 23,000 tree seedlings planted and grown in ten years.
Together with Cenergistic, Lawrence County Schools has built a customized and sustainable energy conservation program that reduces consumption of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and water through changes in organizational and human behavior.
Its proven approach is built on a proprietary methodology, which optimizes clients’ infrastructure, improves internal processes and changes behavior to ensure that savings endure.
Cenergistic’s conservation experts are working closely with personnel to audit buildings for most efficient operation and to train personnel to control energy use wherever possible.
”I am gratified by the energy conservation success we have realized. Our partnership with Cenergistic has led to a dramatic change in how we view energy consumption. While we believed we were doing a pretty good job of saving energy before, this program has taken us to a new level,” said Director of Schools Dr. Bill Heath.
“Our success is directly attributable to each and every member of our staff working as change agents, ensuring we use our resources responsibly. The dollars we’ve saved in just the first few months is a significant amount — it’s money we won’t have to cut from our budget.”
Josh Jones serves as Energy Specialist for Lawrence County Schools.
He receives intensive training from Cenergistic energy consultants to implement energy conservation behavior and procedures throughout the system.
He conducts energy audits to ensure that students and teachers are comfortable during class time and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary.
To verify the program’s effectiveness and measure its success, Jones tracks energy consumption — including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel oil — using third-party energy-accounting software.
The software compares current energy use to a baseline period and calculates the amount of energy that would have been used if conservation and management practices had not been implemented.
It adjusts for weather, equipment additions or deletions, and changes in building use.
By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, the software helps the organization and Cenergistic quickly identify and correct energy consumption that needs to be addressed.
All costs of the Cenergistic program come from the existing utility budget, with savings guaranteed to more than pay for the program. Additional savings can be redirected to other parts of the budget.
Many organizations have credited this program with helping keep personnel and maintain programs that otherwise would have fallen victim to budget cuts.
In addition, the conservation program is sustainable for years.
Cenergistic provides free support after the paid term of the contract, as long as the organization continues to implement the program. The energy savings continue for many years.
Cenergistic is a technology-powered, data-driven energy conservation company. Cenergistic helps organizations reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and water.
Its proven approach is built on a proprietary methodology, which optimizes clients’ infrastructure, improves internal processes and changes behavior to ensure that savings endure.
This approach empowers the average client to save 20 – 30% off expected utility bills.
For the past five years, Cenergistic has earned national recognition from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, including the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
