Hendersonville, NC (PRWEB) December 14, 2011
A North Carolina school district is acquiring high marks in power efficiency this semester. Thirteen buildings from Henderson County Public Schools have earned Energy STAR labels this fall, following a thorough assessment from Morrisville-based Southern Energy Management (SEM). Included in the project are a dozen elementary, middle and high schools, along with the district’s Data Technologies Center.
“This is an intentional move for our school district,” said Bill Parker, assistant superintendent for administrative services. “Keeping energy effective facilities is portion of our school district’s Strategic Plan. We have two LEED-certified schools and saw the opportunity to pursue the Energy STAR label with our other facilities as a organic next step.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Henderson County Public Schools was one particular of only seven North Carolina school districts that had buildings earn Power STAR labels in 2011. School district power manager Dave Lyons helped prepare the buildings for the Energy STAR process, performing internal audits that led to lighting retrofits prior to SEM’s evaluation. He also helped get individual principals involved in minimizing their school’s energy usage.
The verification approach from SEM involved a review of buildings’ power usage, right after which the outcomes had been put via the EPA’s Portfolio Manager, creating a Statement of Power Performance. One of SEM’s Skilled Engineers gave every creating a final inspection to make certain it conformed to the EPA’s strict recommendations.
“Working with Henderson County Schools was a treat. We’re not just teaching students the significance of sustainability, we’re showing them how to accomplish it,” said SEM developing science engineer Meghan McDermott. “Each of these buildings now meets high standards for efficiency, air good quality, comfort and lighting. It really is something the students ought to be proud of.”
The Power STAR program for buildings and plants differs from the far more commonly recognized version for residential houses. The major distinction is that this sort of verification entails existing buildings, rather than new construction.
Southern Power Management conducted this function on behalf of Advanced Energy, a non-profit located in Raleigh, N.C. that focuses on energy efficiency solutions. Advanced Energy has worked with far more than 40 school systems across the state of N.C. to benchmark power efficiency, identify energy saving measures and promote power awareness by way of programs such as the EPA Energy STAR plan. This project is sponsored by Duke Power, Progress Power, North Carolina Electric Membership Co-Op, and Dominion NC Power and the electric ratepayers of North Carolina. For far more information about Advanced Energy’s services for commercial and industrial clients, go to http://www.advancedenergy.org/ci/
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tricia Allen, Henderson County Public Schools: 828-697-4512
Chris Cowperthwaite, SEM: 919-836-0300 ext. 129
About Henderson County Public Schools
Henderson County is located in the stunning mountains of Western North Carolina. The Henderson County Public Schools Administrative Office is positioned on 414 Fourth Avenue West in the city of Hendersonville. Hendersonville is located approximately 20 miles from Asheville, North Carolina. The county of Henderson is referred to as a typical mountain county, due to the fact it consists of these elements: mountain ranges, isolated peaks, a rolling plateau and level valley places. Elevations range from 1400 feet close to Bat Cave at the foot of the Blue Ridge, to 5000 feet on Small Pisgah. In 1993 Henderson County Schools merged with the Hendersonville City Schools to form the Henderson County Public Schools. The Henderson County Public Schools is now comprised of four school districts (East, Hendersonville, North, and West). The school district has a total of 23 schools – 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, four high schools, 1 education center, and 1 early college high school. The student population has grown to approach 13,500. Teaching staff number over 900. With approximately 1800 staff, the Henderson County Public Schools is largest employer in Henderson County.
About Southern Power Management
Southern Energy Management is a North Carolina-based sustainable power company offering power efficiency, green constructing and turn-key solar services for homeowners, builders, organizations, government and military clients across the country. A certified B Corp, SEM’s mission is to have a measurable impact on lowering greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate adjust, and to create a sustainable triple-bottom-line business. SEM was founded in a living room in Raleigh in 2001, and now employs a team of much more than 100 sustainable power specialists. SEM is consistently recognized as an industry leader both locally and nationally, and is among a tiny handful of firms in the U.S. to earn the National Power Star Partner of the Year award five occasions (in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011). SEM also received the City of Raleigh 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award and the 2010 Green Jobs Award from SJF Institute & Green For All. For far more info, go to http://www.southern-energy.com.
About Advanced Energy
Advanced Power is bringing power efficiency solutions to your residence, your workplace, the places you go and the vehicles you take to get there. As a Raleigh, N.C.-based non-profit, we work with utility partners, government, municipalities, corporations, academia and builders to assist men and women concentrate on energy efficiency. While the majority of our function in delivering testing, coaching and consulting is centered in North Carolina, we have clients throughout the U.S. We provide high-good quality solutions by means of a systems method that contains non-energy benefits. In addition to industrial and commercial buildings, we also focus on plan places such as residential retrofit, new residential construction, motors and drives, renewable power and plug-in electric transportation. For far more information, check out http://www.advancedenergy.org.
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