Renovation makes two Bullitt County elementary schools more energy efficient
Kentucky School Advocate
June 2018
By Matt McCarty
Staff writer
Bullitt County’s Maryville and Mt. Washington elementary schools were built in the mid-1970s and both were open-concept schools. The district decided to renovate them three years ago, and now they have traditional classrooms and, as a result, are more energy efficient.
“Besides it being a better learning environment for students so the teachers aren’t competing with each other and students aren’t distracted, but, as far as the HVAC system, you’re not having to heat or cool a relatively large space,” said Kimberly Joseph, Bullitt County Schools’ energy manager.
The renovation paid off, with the two schools combining for $41,367 in energy savings in 2017.
Maryville Elementary reduced its energy consumption in 2017 by just over 40 percent compared with its 2016 energy use, and Mt. Washington reduced its energy consumption by 36 percent that year. The results earned the schools second and third place in Kentucky’s Battle of the School Buildings competition.
“I was hoping for at least 20 percent reduction but when that 40 percent reduction came in, that really surprised me. But, at the same time, we also did some installation and things that helped as well,” Joseph said.
Each school now has a new geothermal HVAC system with variable speed compressor heat pumps and both have all LED lights both inside and outside.
Joseph said the district’s energy savings was a team effort.
“Both principals have been very supportive and we have a very active student energy team at Mt. Washington Elementary,” she said.
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