District benefitting from energy-saving initiatives
Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Fayette County Public Schools has saved nearly $700,000 in energy costs since launching new sustainability initiatives last summer, according to the latest quarterly progress report.
Scott R. Smith with Smith Management Group leads the district’s consulting group, which is made up of engineers, scientists and architects with experience in energy assessments, conservation, sustainable building design, and environmental management and education.
Smith updated the Fayette County Board of Education at its Jan. 10 planning meeting. The total savings include such areas as:
- About $300,000 in projected annual savings on the school district’s natural gas contract with MX Energy;
- About $200,000 per year by negotiating a better deal for FCPS in a Kentucky Utilities rate-increase case before the state Public Service Commission;
- About $100,000 savings in one-time charges for service hookups at the new Locust Trace AgriScience Farm;
- About $60,000 per year by ensuring a less expensive, all-electric rate for qualifying schools.
Through a state grant, FCPS hired mechanical engineer Britney Thompson and veteran science teacher Tresine Logsdon as energy managers to guide and implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. Thompson is instrumental in the utility analyses and technical aspects districtwide, while Logsdon is working alongside classroom teachers and students.
Thompson, Logsdon and Smith make up the FCPS Sustainability Team.