Nearly every day, a newspaper somewhere in the country is carrying a story about the success of our clients’ energy conservation programs. Below are just a few examples of the great work they are doing, and the privilege it is to serve them in such tangible, noteworthy ways.
The Evening Star Waterloo, Indiana January 16, 2008
DeKalb Central saves $2.2 million on energy BY KATHRYN BASSETT WATERLOO — The DeKalb Central school district has avoided $2.23 million in energy costs in the 43 months since it began an energy conservation program, the school board heard Tuesday night. The district is working with Energy Education Inc. in a program designed to save money, eliminate energy waste, maintain comfort and use savings to sustain and add programs. Ed Benbow, the district’s energy education manager, presented an energy savings report that showed a gross cost avoidance of $2.23 million and a net cost avoidance of $1.77 million. Benbow noted the cost avoidance projected by EEI was $2.05 million gross dollars and $1.54 million net dollars by the end of the seventh year of the program. He said the district has surpassed the seven-year projection in about 3 1/2 years. The impact of the savings means staff and programs are retained, there are funds for libraries, staff and teacher supplies, funds for increased wages and improvements in facilities, Benbow said. “These are huge dollars,” said business manager Angie Lockwood. “You are actually seeing true, hard-cost savings, big time!” Benbow commended the district’s entire staff for the program’s success. “This is basically a people program,” he said. If the district continues to sustain its gains in energy savings, 10-year projected savings through May 2014 could total $7.97 million, Benbow said.