The
Washougal School District has saved $379,000 in energy costs since beginning an
energy saving program two years ago. Money saved from lowering costs has been used to support facility operations
and fund future energy-saving measures throughout the district. As a result of the program, Washougal
High School, Canyon Creek Middle School and Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School
have earned Energy Star certification.
Six
of the seven Washougal schools are now eligible for Energy Star
certification. This will qualify
the District as an Energy Star Leader, one of only 219 such school districts in
the nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy
Star certification signifies that buildings perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide
for energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set
by the EPA.
Washougal
High School underwent a “building tune-up” that brought its Energy Star score
from a 17 to an 85. The EPA ranks
school energy efficiency on a scale of 0–100, with 75 as a minimum passing
score. “The tune-up will bring significant
utility savings over the next 10 years, and the cost of the improvements was
paid for in utility savings the first year,” said Aaron Hansen, Washougal High
School principal. “These improvements have also created a more comfortable
learning environment here at school.”
Washougal School District contracted with ESD 112’s Construction
Services Group, with Geert Aerts as Resource Conservation and
Retro-Commissioning Manager, to oversee the improvements. They worked to tune
up the buildings’ heating, cooling and ventilation systems and optimize the
computer programming that controls the heating and cooling throughout the year. “It’s very gratifying to see savings
start just as budgets have shrunk,” said Aerts. “After all the buildings are
tuned-up, the district will have saved $10 million over the next 20 years to invest in teachers,
students and programs rather than on the energy costs.”
Canyon Creek Middle and Cape Horn-Skye Elementary Schools also
received a tune-up. “I like that
we now use less heating energy over holidays and snow days, less lighting after
school activities end and still make sure people are comfortable when using our
building after hours,” said Sandi Christensen, Canyon Creek Middle School
principal. “These changes to our computer control systems were a huge step in
reducing energy waste and improving comfort.”
Commercial
buildings that earn EPA’s Energy Star certification use an average of 35
percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
"We hope the students and families
see the Energy Star label on the buildings and know that we are working to
lower energy costs and be a steward to the environment,” said Mary Lou Woody,
Cape Horn-Skye Elementary principal.
“And the good news is no one needs to be too hot or too cold! Everyone is just right!”
