ARS Partners with CUSD Foundation to Encourage Students to “Think Green”

American Residential Services (ARS), a residential heating and air conditioning service company in Orange County, has partnered with the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation (CARE) to give back to the Capistrano Unified School District, while raising awareness for best practices in energy conservation. The CUSD Foundation is committed to marshaling the energy and goodwill of the Orange County community to provide exceptional learning opportunities for its students. ARS’s partnership with the foundation furthers this mission by providing a new initiative for local students to “think green.”

ARS and the CUSD Foundation have created an opportunity for children to expand their critical-thinking skills by submitting ideas focused on energy conservation. ARS and the CUSD Foundation encourage Elementary and Middle School students in the Capistrano Unified School District to enter their best ideas on how to reduce the load on the energy grid and share the type of impact their idea could have on the community. The contest is open to all “green” ideas, including essays, models and projects, and the top three students with the winning ideas will be rewarded with cash prizes; $500 for the first place winner, $300 for the second place winner and $200 for the third place winner. In addition, ARS will match the total prize earnings with a $1,000 donation to the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation.

“Community involvement is important to our team at ARS and giving back to our local schools and students is of the highest priority,” said Colin Martodam, Regional Manager of American Residential Services’ Southwest Division. “This green initiative aligns with ARS’s focus on energy-efficient practices and technologies, and will help bring awareness to the younger generation. Our hope is that we can encourage our youth to think about the impact they can make on our environment and share those ideas with the community as a whole so we can start making changes right here in Orange County.”

Submissions for the “Think Green” contest will be accepted May 1 through May 31. To enter, students must submit an energy-saving idea in the form of a written essay, drawing or model. All entries must include a thorough explanation of the idea, the potential impact of the idea on the economy and/or community, and how the idea can be implemented throughout their community. Winners will be announced in the first week of June. Projects are to be submitted toARSthinkgreen@boltpr.com no later than May 31. In addition to the prizes for the winning students and the donation to the CUSD Foundation, ARS will donate $30 to CUSD for every ARS Home Service Plan purchased by parents within the Capistrano Unified School District during the months of May through July.

The ARS Home Service Plan includes two full-service maintenance tune-ups/ inspections within a one-year period. HSP membership guarantees customers benefits and services for their home, including discounts on repairs and selected services, priority scheduling and a full one-year guarantee on all work performed.

“The ‘Think Green’ contest is an excellent example of how a business can support and encourage ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking in education” said Capistrano Unified School District Foundation president, Steph Ramsey. “This kind of partnership brings unique participation opportunities to the students of CUSD while encouraging extracurricular learning and environmental awareness.”

For more information about the “Think Green” contest, please visit www.cusdfoundation.org, or emailARSthinkgreen@boltpr.com or call (949) 436-3537. For further information about the CUSD Foundation visit www.cusdfoundation.org. For more information about ARS’s award-winning heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality services and to make a Home Service Plan appointment, visitwww.arsorangecounty.com.