School District of Newberry County

“Paying attention is cheaper than paying for energy.” That’s the mantra at the School District of Newberry County where energy cost savings recently topped $1,000,000.

By implementing an innovative energy conservation program, the district has significantly cut energy use and thereby saved approximately $1,082,055 over the last three years. In 2003, the district partnered with Energy Education, Inc., a national company that teaches public school districts to plan and implement people-oriented energy conservation programs.

“Passing the $1 million mark is a significant milestone,” said Dr. William S. Spears, CEO and founder of Energy Education. “The district has achieved this level of success by consistently prioritizing conservation and maintaining productive efforts at all levels of the organization.”

According to Greg Mack, assistant superintendent for operations at the district, the program has allowed the finance office to redirect the saved energy dollars to meet other educational needs.

“We have, in several instances, been able to maintain programs at their current level of operation, rather than cut them back, because of the savings we’ve realized through the energy education program,” he said.

Dr. Walter Tobin, district superintendent, added, “Our district Energy Educator Jim Parks has done an excellent job.”

“Principals are excited to let me know their schools are ‘no post-it zones,’” Tobin said, referring to the yellow Post-It notes Parks places on equipment that has been inadvertently left “On.”

Energy Education’s innovative energy conservation program is a win-win alliance that positions participating school districts to achieve substantial savings with no capital expenditure. The company develops and implements customized energy conservation programs for public schools, enabling districts to redirect saved dollars for educational opportunities and resources. Energy Education, Inc., has worked with more than 715 school districts throughout the nation and helped them save more than $1 billion in 19 years.