Carkenord Takes Green Challenge

During a year-long, energy-savings initiative, students at in L’Anse Creuse Public Schools will monitor electricity use in effort to reap some green for their school. 

Principal Christopher May is preparing the school to participate in the School Energy Efficiency Challenge sponsored by DTE Energy.

Carkenord is one of four schools in Michigan selected by DTE to join the challenge, which kicked off this month. Other districts chosen for the initiative include Harper Woods Community Schools, Warren Consolidated Schools and Oakland ISD Schools. The pilot program was crafted by DTE to help schools decrease energy usage and will award $5,000 to the school that reaches one percent savings. A school that decreases energy use by 3 percent will receive $10,000 and if 10 percent is saved, then $15,000 award is given.  Energy reductions must be maintained for at least 12 months.   

“I think it’s great,” May said. “This program really supports our curriculum and teaches responsibility. It teaches that you do have control over certain things like outcomes and, in this case, it’s environmental.” 

May is meeting with other school staff and district maintenance personnel to develop energy efficiency action plans to be implemented at the school throughout the year. In return, DTE will provide rebates and incentives to schools that commit to investing in energy-efficient equipment like tankless water heaters and natural gas range stovetops. The district is not required to supply its own resources in order to be a part of the program.

“Financially you can benefit in various ways from this, and we support working together as a community to solve problems.," May said.

May said that while there are no specific ways for parents and students to contribute at this point in time, there will be plenty of help needed once the school’s action plan is fully implemented around Earth Day on April 22. He said that students would take an active part in saving energy at school and also be involved in the deciding how prize money is allocated. 

“I will look at our building needs,” May said. “These are budget issues out there but in this case, (this award) would be a direct relation to students efforts so I want to hear from students, staff, and community before we make a choice.”

Carkenord is one of 11 schools in the district named a Michigan Green School with Evergreen Status, the highest honor awarded by the initiative. May muses that prize monies could be used to continue environmental efforts within the school community. Continuing to support students in the classroom will remain a priority, May said when asked if winnings might first go towards offsetting looming budget cuts across Michigan school districts should they become a reality.

Sarah D’Agostini, a third-grade teacher at the school said that students will be expected to participate in initiatives like the school’s Energy Conservation Manager program to save energy. She also said that fourth-grade students would monitor all building spaces at the end of the school day to ensure that technology and lighting is powered down.

D’Agostini said, “To address current environmental challenges, teachers must develop competent, critical thinkers capable of serving as activists for our environment. Our participation in this is yet one more way we can promote ecologically mindful students.”