District earns 2021 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award
April 13, 2021
Pinellas County Schools is proud to announce that it has received the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for a third time. Pinellas County Schools is one of only 6 school districts nationwide chosen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy for its continued commitment to energy conservation. The announcement was made Tuesday, April 13, during a virtual awards presentation.
“I am very proud of the work we have done as a district to manage our energy costs and to implement sustainable energy efficiencies,” said Clint Herbic, the district’s Associate Superintendent of Operational Services. “To be presented with this award for the third year in a row is a testament to Pinellas County Schools’ commitment to conserve energy and protect our environment for future generations.”
“ENERGY STAR award-winning partners are showing the world that delivering real climate solutions makes good business sense and promotes job growth,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
2020 Highlights:
- 98 PCS schools received the ENERGY STAR building certification, ranking them in the top 25% of energy-efficient buildings nationwide.
- Pinellas County Schools saved $10,292,000 in utility costs, opening up those funds for other district needs
- Pinellas County Schools saved 69 million kilowatt hours (kWh)
- Equal to a reduction in greenhouse gases from 7,773 cars driven for a year, OR
- The equivalent of CO2 emissions from 54 million pounds of coal burned
- Pinellas County Schools saved 378,000 therms of natural gas
- Enough to charge 255 million smartphones, OR
- The equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions from 5,036,071 miles driven by the average passenger vehicle
Since the Energy Program started in March of 2015, Pinellas County Schools has saved $36,977,276 in utility costs along with the equivalent reductions in energy use.
The district has grown a strong culture of conservation where everyone plays a role in reducing energy waste. Simple practices such as turning off lights and equipment not being used in the classroom add up to reducing one’s carbon footprint. Also, four district Energy Specialists are tasked with continually looking for ways to save energy, inspecting buildings and meters and monitoring usage. In 2015, Pinellas County Schools partnered with Cenergistic, a national leading energy conservation and sustainability company, to implement an energy conservation program.