Energy Savings Adding up for Topeka School District

The Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 has been enjoying huge energy savings after adopting a new energy program. The program includes simple tactics like turning off the lights, unplugging computers and appliances and maintaining consistent room temperatures.

"It's a community effort," Chris Crockett, USD 437's energy management specialist, said. "My goal is to have the district not use any unnecessary resources. If we can make it a community impact, it's going to be better for the environment."

It's also better for the district's bottom line. According to online board documents, the district's board of education members were told in October of 2013 that the district had saved more than $336,000 between November 2012 and August 2013.

Crockett declined to share the latest energy cost savings to date, saying that he would release those figures to the board members in October. He did say, however, that the district has seen a 3 million kilowatt reduction in energy usage from November of 2012 to June of this year, which is equal to a 23.4 percent reduction in energy costs.

In a Topeka Capital-Journal from January 8, 2013, superintendent Brenda Dietrich said the program is expected to have an energy savings of approximately $4.3 million over a 10 year period.

"It shows we're concerned about our carbon footprint," Dietrich was quoted in the January 2013 article. "And we want our kids to be responsible energy consumers."

To learn what energy savings options are available for your business or facility, call our offices today at 913.310.0705. There are numerous ways to start saving money and have a positive impact on the environment at the same time.

Source: The Topeka Capital-Journal