Who knew saving energy could save so much?

Within the past nine months the Forest Hills Public School District has avoided nearly half a million dollars in energy costs by using energy saving tips, said Tom Walters, the District's Director of Energy Management.

Walters said that since July the district has used 25 percent less electricity. It has used 14 percent less natural gas and 18 percent less water and sewage. The district has avoided 21 percent of its total energy cost, reaching a cost avoidance of $470,000. Walters said that the savings in natural gas alone is equivalent to removing 464 vehicles off the road and planting 961 acres of trees.

"I truly believe that the program works," Walters said. "The key to it is the reduced consumption."

Forest Hills partnered with Energy Education, Inc. in July to adopt an energy management program that reduces the amount of electricity, natural gas and water consumed at each school. The program includes reminding teachers in simple ways to save energy in the classroom by closing blinds and turning off lights.

"All these little efforts add up to half a million dollars in savings," said Superintendent Dan Behm.

 Within the last nine months the unit cost for electricity increased 20 percent. The unit cost for natural gas decreased seven percent and increased 10 percent for water and sewage.

Walters said that the District will continue to save energy this spring by turning off school boilers by May and adjusting the time that lights in parking lots turn on and off, based on new daylight saving hours.

"We're continuing to review additional options of saving energy," Walters said. "We're investigating wind power and burning wood pellets for energy."

President of the Board of Education Doug VanderLaan said that the energy education program will keep the District from making financial cuts in the classroom.

East Grand Rapids, Rockford, Sparta, Byron Center, Thornapple Kellogg and Jenison school districts all participate in the same Energy Education, Inc. energy saving program.

Since July 2001 the Forest Hills Public School District has brainstormed ways to address the rising cost of energy use in the school system.

 

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