"This is without any capital improvement," assistant Superintendent Mel Jordan said Friday at Pennycook Elementary School in East Vallejo.
Nearly all of the district's 29 sites have achieved an energy star certification, meaning they have used 35 percent less energy and emitted 35 percent less greenhouse gas since 2009, when the district's energy conservation program began with national conservation company Energy Education Inc.
Much of the efforts to reduce energy usage involves behavioral change, said Denise Brogan-Whitford, the district's energy education specialist.
"The focus of the project is to make sure things are shut off when they aren't occupied," Brogan-Whitford said.
For example, custodians at Pennycook have been trained to leave most of the lights on when they arrive early in the morning until teachers and students start arriving for school, Pennycook Principal Pat Jennings said.
Additionally, the whole school is shut down during breaks and long weekends.
"These things make a big difference," Jennings said.
Brogan-Whitford has worked to build relationships throughout the district, visiting shut-down classrooms and leaving thank-you notes for unplugging computers and other energy-saving practices.
On average, the district
spends about $2.3 million a year in gas, electricity and water. The $2 million saved in the last few years is especially relevant as the economy continues to stagnate and education funding in California remains unstable.The Environmental Protection Agency accolades comes just a year after the district surpassed its $1 million savings mark.
Contact Lanz Christian Ba?es at (707) 553-6833 or lbanes@timesheraldonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @LanzTimesH.
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