Frankfort, Ky. (April 23, 2018) – East Valley Elementary School in Morgan County reduced its energy consumption between 2016 and 2017 by more than 40 percent, earning it the championship title in Kentucky’s 2018 Battle of the School Buildings competition, sponsored by the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA). Maryville Elementary School in Bullitt County was a close second, a fraction of a percentage point behind.
In total, 110 schools statewide entered the 2018 competition, overseen by KSBA’s School Energy Managers Project (SEMP). KSBA representatives made the announcement in presentation ceremonies at the closing of the annual School Energy Summit in Lexington last week.
The Morgan County school district has worked hard to reduce energy use, said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling. “The district began implementing energy efficiency improvements in 2010, and saved nearly $500,000 in four years. During those four years, it implemented strategies recommended in training from KSBA’s School Energy Managers Project. In 2016, the district began a guaranteed energy savings contract to replace HVAC, controls and lighting, and has reduced nearly one-third of the energy used in the district,” Schelling said.
Equally as remarkable is the energy reduction at Bullitt County Schools’ Maryville Elementary. The school reduced energy use by 40.67 percent, just 0.7 percent behind East Valley Elementary School.
“Across the state, school district leaders have made significant decisions to implement energy efficiency strategies that have reduced the cost of powering, lighting, heating and cooling these learning centers to the tune of $170 million over the last seven years,” said KSBA-SEMP Director Ron Willhite. “Every dollar saved by these efforts goes right back into the teaching and learning in the schools.”
In Kentucky’s Battle of the School Buildings, school energy managers or other district staff tracked energy usage monthly over the past year, using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The data measures the weather-normalized source energy per square foot.
Eight participating schools reduced energy use by 20 percent or more during the 2018 competition and were recognized with a plaque.
Eighty-nine of the 110 schools that entered the competition reduced energy use. Many of them had implemented energy management programs several years ago and had already seen significant energy reductions.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Morgan County Schools received awards for three of its schools in Kentucky’s Battle of the School Buildings competition. Jon Gasser (second from left) of CMTA Energy Solutions presents the first place plaque to Morgan County Superintendent Dr. Thomas Potter. Also pictured are Morgan County school board Chairman Marshall Jenkins (left) and Facilities Director Darren Sparkman (right).