Polk County Public Schools

Environmental Protection Agency Recognizes Polk Schools For Energy Conservation

January 12, 2010

An additional 84 Polk schools have earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star symbol for energy conservation. These schools are using at least 35 percent less energy while providing comfort to students and staff. The school district overall has lowered its energy costs by 37.8 percent since instituting an energy management program in 1991 and achieved an energy cost savings of approximately $71 million since then.

With the addition of 84 schools, Polk has a total of 119 schools that have earned the Energy Star Award. Thirty-five other Polk schools were previously announced in April 2009 as Energy Star recipients.

Energy conservation actions and methods implemented by the school district include:

• Education of all staff in the most energy-efficient way to use equipment that they control.
• Detailed shutdown procedures when buildings are not occupied
• Monitoring of all school sites during operational and non-operational hours for the most energy efficient use of equipment and to ensure control systems are working correctly
• Monitoring of all utility accounts for proper rate structure and accurate billing
• Inputting usage and cost for all utility bills into computer software for tracking and reporting purposes
• Planning of all new buildings and additions to include the most energy efficient design
• Education of students and staff about energy efficiency through classroom presentations and published information
• Frequent walk-throughs of school buildings and communication to teachers and staff about comfort and energy efficiency measures

The list of 84 new schools to receive the Energy Star designation are listed by school location.

Alturas: Alturas Elementary

Auburndale: Berkley Elementary, Boswell Elementary, East Area Adult School, Lena Vista Elementary

Babson Park: Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary

Bartow: Bartow Elementary Academy, Bartow Middle School, Bartow High, Floral Avenue Elementary, Gause Academy, Gibbons Street Elementary, Polk Life and Learning Center, Stephens Elementary, Union Academy

Davenport: Davenport School of the Arts, Ridge Community High, Ridgeview Global Studies

Dundee: Donald E. Woods Center, Dundee Elementary, Dundee Ridge Middle

Eaton Park: Oscar J. Pope Elementary

Eloise: Snively Elementary

Fort Meade: Anna Woodbury Elementary, Fort Meade Middle-Senior, Lewis Elementary

Frostproof: Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary, Frostproof Elementary, Frostproof Middle-Senior

Haines City: Alta Vista Elementary, Bethune Academy, Boone Middle, Daniel Jenkins Academy, Eastside Elementary, Haines City High, Sandhill Elementary

Highland City: Highland City Elementary

Lake Alfred: Discovery Academy, Karen M. Siegel Academy, Lake Alfred Addair Middle, Lake Alfred Elementary

Lake Wales: Hillcrest Elementary, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, Lake Wales High, McLaughlin Middle And Fine Arts Academy, Polk Avenue Elementary, Roosevelt Academy, Spook Hill Elementary

Lakeland: Bill Duncan Center, Blake Academy, Combee Elementary, Crystal Lake Elementary, Crystal Lake Middle, Doris A. Sanders Learning Center, Dwight Smith Center, George Jenkins High, Griffin Elementary, Harrison School for the Arts, Jesse Keen Elementary, Kathleen High, Lakeland High, Lawton Chiles Middle Academy, Lincoln Avenue Academy, North Lakeland Elementary, Philip O’Brien Elementary, R. Bruce Wagner Elementary, Rochelle School of the Arts, Scott Lake Elementary, Sikes Elementary, Traviss Career Center, Wendell Watson Elementary, West Area Adult School

Mulberry: Kingsford Elementary, Mulberry Middle, Mulberry High, Purcell Elementary

Poinciana: Lake Marion Creek School, Laurel Elementary, Palmetto Elementary

Polk City: Polk City Elementary

Winter Haven: Elbert Elementary, Mark Wilcox Center, Ridge Career Center, Wahneta Elementary

Contact Fred Murphy, assistant superintendent of support services, (863) 534-7309 for further information on the Energy Star program or the school district’s energy conservation implementation.