Ypsilanti Lincoln Schools capture big energy savings

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Ypsilanti's Lincoln Consolidated School District is seeing some big returns through energy efficiency.

The school district hired Energy Education (a consulting firm founded by a former teacher) at $22,000 a year for a seven-year contract. Lincoln Schools have saved $978,000 in the last 37 months, earning it an Environmental Excellence Award from the consulting firm.

The school district didn't have to install solar panels or wind turbines to achieve these savings. It all came down to changing staff and student behavior.

"It's more of a conservation by change of habit," says Lynn Cleary, superintendent of Lincoln Consolidated Schools. "People would leave their computers on all night or have one bottle of pop in a refrigerator."

Energy Education went through Lincoln School's seven buildings (five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school) looking for low-hanging-energy-saving fruit. It also focused on educating the school districts 4,800 students and 600 employees.

"It's a concerted effort," Cleary says. "We call him the Guru of Energy because he is diligent about making sure things are shut down. It's great because it's habit now."

Source: Lynn Cleary, superintendent of Lincoln Consolidated Schools
Writer: Jon Zemke