Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an ENERGY STAR Leader based on its demonstration of continuous improvement in energy efficiency districtwide.

These improvements have resulted in more than $410,000 in avoided energy costs for the school district over a two-year period, and an impact on the local environment.

The district's reduction of electricity and natural gas use is equivalent to providing electricity to 619 households or driving 1,043 passenger cars for a year.

The award was presented to the Board of Education by Audrie Washington, a program manager for the EPA based in Chicago, Sept. 21. Edward Garvey, deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Energy and Telecommunications, spoke on behalf of Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District is the fourth school district in the Midwest and the 17th in the nation to have achieved this status.

The district earned this national award as part of the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program, a partnership with Hallberg Engineering Inc. of White Bear Lake to reduce energy waste and energy-related expenses for schools in Minnesota by using low and no-cost strategies. Built on the commitment of the superintendent, school board, and an involved staff and student community, District 191 reduced its energy use by 13 percent during the last year. Major projects included a focus on reducing energy use during after-school hours and holiday breaks along with an educational awareness campaign.

"We are so pleased to have achieved this success," said Superintendent Ben Kanninen. "We are always looking for cost savings that allow us to direct more of our resources into the classroom and learning, and this certainly does that."

Energy efficiency messages reach the classrooms through visits from the Alliance to Save Energy's Energy Hog mascot and State Energy Office's Energy Bike activities. Students also help contribute to district energy savings through SEE Energy Squads that volunteer to help monitor behavior by leaving friendly reminders to those who forget to shut off their lights when they leave the room or thank you's to those who remembered to turn off their computer monitor.

For more information, visit the ENERGY STAR web site, www.energystar.gov or Schools for Energy Efficiency Program web site, www.seeprograms.com.