District wins energy award
For several years the Owen J. Roberts School District has been engaged in an energy conservation plan that aims to save taxpayers money, reduce the dsitrict’s carbon footprint, and teach students about sustainability.
Recently, the Owen J. Roberts High School students and staff were recognized for those efforts. They were awarded an Honorable Mention in the Moving to the Head of the Class: Energy Ef-
ficient Schools Award by the non-profit Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance.
The high school was among only seven schools in the state to receive a Moving to the Head of the Class award, and one of only four schools in the honorable mention category. Their selection was based on the fact that “over the past year, they have worked hard to reduce energy consumption by nearly 11 percent,” according to information provided by the alliance.
District officials were presented with a citation and a plaque by state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44th Dist., at the Capitol Rotunda last month.
Recognition was based on a number of factors, determined by a panel of energy experts, according to Alana Zola, associate of communications and programs for the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance.
“They look at basic energy savings and Owen J. Roberts had some great ones. They reduced their (energy usage) by over 10 percent,” Zola said.
The panel also took into account the involvement of students and staff in realizing energy savings.
“We wouldn’t have won this award if we hadn’t impacted the curriculum,” explained district Chief Financial Officer Jaclin Krumrine.
The school board approved a district-wide energy conservation program in 2011 that led to a series of mechanical and building upgrades, and was highlighted by the installation of solar panels on the high school and middle school roofs. The solar panels produce 30 percent of the electricity to the high school and middle school campus.
Although the cost totaled $6.7 million, the guaranteed energy savings project promised a savings of $11 million in energy costs over 20 years, under the terms of a contract with Johnson Controls Inc., which oversaw the project. Subtracting the project costs, this amounts to a net savings of $4.2 million.
As part of the project, Johnson Controls provided the district with classroom science kits that included books, lesson plans, posters and materials, such as mini solar panels. They enable students to build their own mini wind turbines and test them out.
That project and its results impressed the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance panel of experts who selected OJR High School for an honorable mention for the Moving to the Head of the Class awards.
“To be nominated for this award, schools must demonstrate that they have benchmarked their energy use, are using an energy management plan, have trained their
“We wouldn’t have won this award if we hadn’t impacted the curriculum.” — Jaclin Krumrine, district’s chief financial officer
facility management staff and have reduced energy consumption by at least 5 percent in the last 12 months,” a press release from the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance said.
But saving energy alone isn’t enough, said Zola. Schools must also demonstrate that they “get buyin from everyone in the school, from the superintendent, to the students and teachers, to the custodial staff.”
“Owen J. Roberts was working across different parties and with a team of people,” Zola said.
That’s an essential component of energy savings because, as Zola observed, “one person doesn’t use all the electricity in the building.”
The Philadelphia-based Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, which has been in existence for 10 years, began offering the Moving to the Head of the Class Award three years ago.
“Our mission is to promote energy efficiency and the education of energy efficiency in Pennsylvania,” said Zola.
With over 3,000 K-12 public schools in the state, schools represent “a significant share of our public buildings,” she pointed out.
The award, therefore, brings visibility and recognition to those schools that are making strides to save energy and encourage conservation behaviors among students, faculty and staff.
“We knew we had a good project that qualified us for this award,” said Krumrine. “We were pleased to be recognized for the efforts the district has taken to save energy and save taxpayers money.”
Krumrine credited the board for taking a proactive approach to energy conservation.
“We will be looking to continue to pursue energy savings projects in the future, as long as it makes good financial sense to do so,” she said.
The school board approved a district-wide energy conservation program in 2011 that led to a series of mechanical and building upgrades, and was highlighted by the installation of solar panels on the high school and middle school roofs. The solar panels produce 30 percent of the electricity to the high school and middle school campus.