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Elliott County schools recognized for energy efficiency

All four schools earn ENERGY STAR certification

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2015) — All four schools in the Elliott County School District have earned the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR certification, a national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy performance.

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ENERGY STAR facilities typically use about 35 percent less energy than average buildings. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a building must receive at least 75 out of 100 points in the EPA’s national energy-performance rating system—with higher scores being better – which places these facilities among the top 25 percent of all comparable buildings.

Buildings are rated based on how they compare to similar buildings across the country. A building must operate for at least one year and submit a year’s worth of energy-use data to the EPA to be considered for the ENERGY STAR.

ENERGY STAR scores earned by the Elliott County schools include: Lakeside Elementary, 78; Isonville Elementary, 84, and the Elliott County High School and Sandy Hook Elementary campus, both earned ENERGY STAR scores of 75.

“Considering the tough economic times in which we live, our district has devoted itself to becoming more efficient,” said Tom Potter, Ph.D., superintendent of Elliott County School District. “This districtwide accomplishment demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship while lowering our energy costs. Every dollar that we save in utility costs means more resources we have to spend in our classroom.”

Energy efficiency features included installation of a new geothermal system, lighting and control upgrades in all four school buildings; these improvements have contributed to annual utility savings districtwide of $67,000.

Certificates signed by Gov. Steve Beshear were presented to school principals during the Nov. 16 meeting of the Elliott County Board of Education.

Kentucky currently ranks second in the nation with the percentage of ENERGY STAR certified K-12 school buildings. Elliott County joins six other Kentucky school districts with 100 percent district-wide ENERGY STAR certification.  For more information on ENERGY STAR programs, see www.energystar.gov.