Energy Efficiency and Schools

Going green saves cash for schools

January 17, 2011 - Federal and state grant money is being used to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in Laramie County School Districts 1 and 2 and has helped save more than $9 million.

Administrators from both districts have made use of programs or funding from the State Energy Office, the Wyoming Business Council and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the last several years to lower the costs of building energy use.

"Since (the energy management program started in 1997), we've saved more than $9 million, and our energy use is down by 23 percent," LCSD1 energy management administrator Dalton Jones said. "We work very closely with planning and construction, (and) maintenance and custodial services to get people to understand that it's the people in the buildings that cause the buildings to use energy."

Currently, LCSD2 is waiting to hear the results of its most recent application to do an energy audit of the Pine Bluffs vocational education building, facilities department employee Kim Nelson said. {continued}