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Nebo School District Celebrates 39 Buildings Achieving the Energy Star Recognition Award
Nebo School District has received notification that 39 of its buildings have earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Certification, the most of any school district in the state of Utah. This recognition is presented to the most energy efficient buildings in the country.
“We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR,” said Nebo School District Superintendent Mr. Rick Nielsen. “Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while also helping protect our local environment. Since we began partnering with Cenergistic on a serious energy conservation program, we have reduced our electrical consumption by 9,431,505 kWh and the environmental impact is equal to taking 2,091 cars off the street or planting 257,409 trees in our community. We are proud that our energy saving success is being recognized by ENERGY STAR.”
To earn the ENERGY STAR Certification, buildings must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency. Nebo averaged in the top 10 percent.
The cost of utilities is the second largest budget line-item for Nebo School District, and the prices for electricity, natural gas, and water have been steadily increasing. To combat these rising energy and utility costs, Nebo School District entered into a partnership with Cenergistic to implement a comprehensive organizational behavior-driven energy conservation program throughout all its buildings and campuses. Since the program was first implemented, Nebo School District has seen a tremendous reduction in energy use.
“Our students, staff, and faculty embrace the energy conservation program at our campus,” Ryan Kay, principal at Park Elementary. His building earned one of the ENERGY STAR Certifications. “Each of us can make a difference through energy conservation because people use energy, buildings don’t,” Mr. Kay continued. “We are part of a daily effort to improve the environment and save money organization-wide. There are dozens and dozens of changes, large and small, that we have implemented that are saving energy without affecting our comfort or educational goals. We have all gained a real sense of accomplishment from this ENERGY STAR recognition. Our students are learning, too, what it means to preserve precious natural resources.”