April 22, 2005

ESD NEWS BRIEFS

Evergreen School District’s energy savings program pays off

$58,261 rebate check earmarked for classroom supplies

By Kathy Gomez
Special to the Times

A representative from PG&E greeted the Evergreen School District’s board of trustees with a very welcome surprise at their March 10 board meeting—a check for $58,261.49!

Principal Leila Welch (seated) and the Holly Oak staff accept a $52,216.49 PG&E rebate check from District Energy Facility Manager Mark Swan on behalf of all the schools in the district.

The money represents rebates the district has earned from its energy savings program. Meia Bowers, of PG&E, told the board of trustees that out of the four local school districts participating in the energy savings program, ESD is a “showcase district.”

Assistant Superintendent Jim Crawford reported that in addition to the rebates earned, the district is on target to save approximately $218,000 over the 12-month period beginning in September 2004.

Mark Swan, ESD’s energy/facility manager, spoke to the board about the projects he’s undertaken not only to help conserve natural resources but also the district’s fiscal resources. Savings projects include:

- Removing small appliances (inefficient microwave ovens, small refrigerators, space heaters, etc.) from offices and classrooms.

- Removing lamps of select interior/exterior light fixtures at all sites, exclusive of instructional areas.

- De-energizing light switches and turning off breakers at lighting control panels for lamps no longer in use.

- Re-adjusting all occupancy sensor settings from 20-30 minutes to 10-15 minutes.

- Replacing non-functioning sensor devices.

- Retrofitting interior/exterior incandescent and high intensity lamps in all buildings to compact fluorescent fixtures.

- Increased effort and awareness in re-programming lighting control panels and energy management system to be most effective.

- Training staff to be more energy conscious in their work area.

Additional energy conservation projects are planned and will be implemented as appropriate. These efforts reflect the district’s commitment to conservation of both natural and fiscal resources.

And where will that $58,216.49 go during these tough financial times? Since the district could not have realized these savings without the dedicated efforts of its staff and students, the money will be returned to school sites to supplement classroom supplies.

LeyVa’s sixth grade 4.0 students

Congratulations to LeyVa Middle School’s sixth grade students who earned a 4.0 grade point average: Sunny Chan, Johnny Dao, Melissa Erezo, James Fok, Miccah Gabaca, Stephanie Hoang, Annie Luu, Liem Ly, Ivy Ma, Mariel Mackay, Cathy Nguyen, Stephanie Nguyen, Marielena Palomera, Monica Salas, Rita Tes, Christopher Torres, Sylvia Vizcardo and Kevin Vu.