Future Business Leaders Benefit from Energy Efficiency

In schools across the state educators are discovering that making buildings energy efficient have the beneficial side effect of improved learning environments. In a press release from Climate Solutions Suellen White, Superintendent at Odessa School District was quoted "Students, teachers, school board members, administrators and community residents are in awe of the improved looks and functionality of our new windows and exterior insulation. We got more than we ever dreamed possible."

The retrofit was made possible through the Washington Department of General Administration's energy program and a grant from the Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). "In addition to addressing many longstanding comfort issues in the buildings, this project enabled the district to achieve energy savings equivalent to preventing more than 75,607 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year – the equivalent of planting approximately 34 acres of trees."

The Puyallup School District utilized grants from OSPI and the Department of Commerce to upgrade lighting in classrooms and portables and replace a failing inefficient electric boiler. "The projects resulted in annual energy savings of nearly $200,000." 

The Columbia School District after upgrading heating and cooling systems "now enjoys an improved learning environment with a more comfortable, consistent indoor climate, as well as a reduction in energy savings of over 40 percent." 

Grant funds through the Jobs Act combined with guaranteed energy savings and utility incentives enabled the Toledo School District to create a budget-neutral project. "This project had minimal impact on the district's general funds but will have a huge impact in the day-to-day lives of our students and teachers," said Sharon Bower, superintendent of Toledo School District. 

In our cash strapped economy educators are finding it more difficult to provide quality education on ever shrinking budgets. Using public private partnerships and grants to retrofit buildings is a method of reducing operations expense for schools while reducing environmental impacts and providing jobs. 

The biggest winners in this equation are our future business leaders, the children who will have a healthier, more comfortable learning environment.