February 6, 2004—The Board of Directors of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) has unanimously endorsed the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) EnergySmart Schools (ESS) program. NSBA President, Carol Brown, praised the program for “using a holistic approach to improving the teaching and learning environment by providing resources to encourage healthy high-performance schools and energy education for the consumers of tomorrow.”
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham accepted President Browns endorsement during a recent meeting at Department Headquarters. DOE is the first Federal Agency to receive this official endorsement.
ESS focuses on saving money for the countrys schools through reduced energy consumption and creating a healthier and more learner-friendly classroom environment.
The typical school district of 3,000 students spends about $400,000 each year on energy related utilities, while those districts in large metropolitan districts may spend $20 million or more. In most districts across the nation, utilities are the second largest budget item after personnel related items. Utilities are the largest single manageable item of a school budget after personnel related costs are removed.
About 25 percent of the energy used in a typical school is wasted because of energy inefficiency in its systems and operations. In the typical school mentioned above, this amounts to $100,000 annually wasted—money that could be used by other instructional or physical plant programs.
More than $6 billion in energy is being used in our schools annually and with 25 percent, or about $1.5 billion, wasted because of energy inefficiency. This energy inefficiency or wasted energy equates to enough money to hire 30,000 new teachers, which could help reduce class size or meet the demands of increasing enrollment.
DOE is helping improve school buildings around the country through better lighting, helping schools assess energy use, and introducing temperature control technologies to help make them more energy efficient. While improving their energy use in buildings and bus fleets, schools are likely to create better environments for teaching and learning. At the same time, DOE is contributing educational materials that teach young people the advantages and methods of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The students are healthier and more comfortable in schools with appropriate lighting, temperature and humidity control.
For more information, visit the EnergySmart Schools program.
