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Green Energy Practices in Central Bucks Schools Recognized

A national energy efficiency company named the Central Bucks School District as one of the top Earth Day champions for using sustainable energy strategies.

The Central Bucks School District was one of five school districts in North America named an Earth Day champion by Johnson Controls, Inc., a company that specializes in green energy solutions.

“Central Bucks is proud to be recognized for our energy saving efforts," said Superintendent Dr. Rodney Green. "Not only is it great to be environment friendly but it also helps us put money back into the classroom to support our students.”

According to a release by Johnson Controls, the top school districts earne d a spot on the list by, "making their educational facilities more efficient using a variety of measures, including utilizing building management systems to optimize energy and operational efficiency, installing renewable energy technology, using more efficient lighting, and updating heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems."

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Central Bucks reduced its carbon production by 5,639 metric tons annually, which is the equivalent of 4,622 forest acres, the release says. The number ranked the school district in second place among K-12 institutions, behind Lester B. Pearson School Board in Montreal, Quebec.

"We celebrate the leaders in K-12 and higher education who teach by example, reducing their facilities’ carbon pollution and creating better learning environments for students and staff – all with a strong financial payback for their communities," said Dave Myers, president of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. 

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In 2008, the Central Bucks School District entered into an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. that projected a $24 million in energy savings over 15 years. The contract included the installation of high-efficiency boilers and lighting systems, occupancy sensors and upgraded HVAC.

Carbon pollution from building energy use is predicted to grow faster than any other sector in the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, making building efficiency critically important for the protection of the environment.

According to the U.S. National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), colleges and universities annually spend more than $14 billion in operations and maintenance of buildings and grounds, and up to $7 billion on energy and utilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that K-12 schools spend more than $8 billion annually on energy, making energy the second highest operating expenditure for schools after personnel. The DOE projects that, on average, green schools save $100,000 per year on operating costs — enough to buy 200 new computers or purchase 5,000 textbooks.


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