March 26, 2024
Pinellas County Schools won the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for the sixth consecutive year. The district was recognized this year for "sustained excellence." The honor is awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to organizations that have made outstanding contributions to energy conservation. In 2015, Pinellas County Schools partnered with Cenergistic to implement an energy conservation program.
Pinellas County Schools "application stood out among many highly competitive submissions this year, demonstrating exemplary commitment and dedication to leadership in energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR program," according to Cindy Jacobs, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Branch.
"PCS has a long-standing commitment to preventing energy waste, optimizing building and comfort systems, and creating a culture of sustainability as demonstrated by earning ENERGY STAR® certification," ENERGY STAR noted on its website. The awards are based on the previous year's accomplishments:
- Benchmarking energy, water, and waste for 139 buildings, and achieving ENERGY STAR certification at 59 schools.
- Saving more than 179 million kBTUs of electricity and more than 343,000 therms of natural gas, for a total cost avoidance of more than $8.3 million annually and more than $56 million since 2015.
- Upgrading food service and other equipment with 185 ENERGY STAR certified products.
- Building a new primary center for professional development that is estimated to produce more solar each year than it consumes and continuing to use a 3.5-MW solar plus storage microgrid at John Hopkins Middle School as a shelter for special needs during emergencies.
- Sustaining an energy incentive program that allows schools to earn discretionary dollars based on their performance on energy audits.
- Incorporating 20 electric school buses into its fleet of 212.
- Promoting ENERGY STAR initiatives to students and the surrounding community, reaching more than 900,000 stakeholders.
Pinellas County Schools will be honored at the ENERGY STAR Awards Celebration on April 25 in Washington, D.C.
