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Council Rock School District

Partner of the Year — Energy Management
Council Rock School District
Newtown, Pennsylvania

Council Rock School District in southeastern Pennsylvania serves more than 12,000 students in 17 facilities, totaling 1.8 million square feet of space. Council Rock School District initiated an energy efficiency program in November 2005 when the school board passed a formal energy policy and an incentive program to share savings with individual schools. The initial goal of improving energy efficiency by 10 to 15 percent was quickly surpassed. The district became an ENERGY STAR partner in 2006 and used EPA tools and resources to help set new goals. Key accomplishments include:

  • Saving more than $2.5 million in just 2 years, helping to address budget shortfalls while preventing tax increases and educational program cuts.
  • Achieving a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency across its portfolio of school buildings by the end of 2007, closely following a 20 percent improvement in energy savings at the beginning of 2007. Both milestones earned the district recognition as an ENERGY STAR Leader.
  • Earning the ENERGY STAR label for superior energy efficiency for two schools.

To achieve these savings, Council Rock School District partnered with Aramark Education to implement a comprehensive energy reduction program that included many operational improvements, staff training, control system enhancements, and repairs to HVAC equipment field controls. The district focused attention on re-commissioning newer buildings and requiring ENERGY STAR qualified products, when possible, for new purchases. School officials also completed their 10 year facility master plan for building renovations, making energy efficiency a high priority.

Council Rock School District educates staff and promotes its achievements through various media, including newsletters, its Web site, closed-circuit and public television broadcasts, committee meetings, and visits to schools. This education is critical because the district has discovered that success in any particular building depends on the active involvement of the administration, the building manager, and custodians. Elementary students have been involved in the program through development of a logo and slogan. Further, a scholarship fund was established for middle and high school students selected for their energy conservation efforts and ideas. District officials are also committed to promoting the benefits of energy efficiency and acting as a model for other school districts, educating their peers about the district's energy management system through presentations and published articles.