Polk County Public Schools

News Release

Environmental Protection Agency Recognizes Polk Schools For Energy Conservation

April 16, 2009

The Polk Public Schools have received a 2009 Top Performer Award from the Energy Star program for its energy conservation performance and initiatives. The Energy Star program is a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Click here to view Polk’s profile on the Energy Star Web site.

In conjunction with the award, 35 Polk schools have earned the EPA’s Energy Star symbol for energy conservation. These schools are using at least 35 percent less energy while still providing comfort to students and staff. The school district overall has lowered its energy costs by 31.7 percent since instituting an energy management program in 1991 and achieved an energy cost savings of approximately $62 million since then.

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

• Educated all staff in the most energy-efficient way to use equipment that they control.
• Provided detailed shutdown procedures for periods when the buildings were not occupied.
• Monitored all school sites during operational and non-operational hours for the most energy efficient use of equipment and to ensure control systems were working correctly.
• Monitored all utility accounts for proper rate structure and accurate billing.
• Inputted usage and cost for all utility bills into EnergyCap software for tracking purposes and to report savings results.
• Participated in the planning of all new buildings and additions to help ensure the most energy efficient design.
• Helped in educating students and staff about energy efficiency through classroom presentations and printed information.
• Conducted frequent walk-throughs of the school buildings and talked to teachers and staff about comfort and energy efficiency measures.

The following 35 schools have earned the EPA’s Energy Star award. They are listed according to school location:

Auburndale: Auburndale Central Elementary, Auburndale High, Caldwell Elementary.

Eagle Lake: Eagle Lake Elementary, Lake Region High, Pinewood Elementary.

Lakeland: Carlton Palmore Elementary, Churchwell Elementary, Cleveland Court Elementary, Lakeland Highlands Middle, Dixieland Elementary, Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary Highlands Grove Elementary, Kathleen Elementary, Kathleen Middle, Lake Gibson High, Lake Gibson Middle, Padgett Elementary, Sleepy Hill Elementary, Sleepy Hill Middle, Socrum Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Southwest Middle.

Winter Haven: Brigham Academy, Chain of Lakes Elementary, Denison Middle, Garden Grove Elementary, Garner Elementary, Inwood Elementary, Jewett School of the Arts, Jewett Middle, Lake Shipp Elementary, Stambaugh Middle, Westwood Middle, Winter Haven High.

Another 27 Polk schools are currently in the evaluation process and hope to receive the Energy Star symbol and designation from the EPA before the end of this school year.

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.