SEEing savings from conservation

ISD 191 avoids nearly $53,000 of energy costs in three months

BY Heather voorhees • SUn NEwspaperS

When the ISD 191 School Board wanted to save money a few years ago by conserving energy, people were willing but hesitant.

"We thought we were doing really well on our conservation," said Mark Glende, head custodian at Sioux Trail Elementary. "We thought we were doing a great job. So, we were kind of skeptical - how much blood can you get out of a turnip? What's turning off a light going to do?

"But now, I can't find anyone that says $410,000 isn't a lot of money."

During the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years, the district avoided more than $410,000 in energy costs simply by joining the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program. Last summer, the district became one of 17 around the country to receive an Energy Star Leader Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

And that momentum shows no sign of stopping; going into SEE's third year, the district avoided almost $53,000 in energy costs between July and September 2006 alone.

"I couldn't be more pleased, and I believe the school board is quite happy with results," said Dennis Hale, director of operations and properties for ISD 191. "I think everyone is just thrilled about the results."

Through the program, the district instigated simple, yet effective, conservation policies, such as turning computer monitors off when not in use, unplugging TVs and VCRs over long breaks and removing the lights in vending machines.

"Hallberg Engineering [in White Bear Lake] provide some facts and figures, like if each school would turn lights off for two hours a day, we can save $500 a month," Glende said. "We're all adults, we have checkbooks and savings accounts, and it was like, 'Wow, I can save this much money by turning off lights? We can do this, if that's all it takes.'"

But the district knew SEE's success would depend on the students, and none stepped up to the plate quite like at Sioux Trail Elementary.

Roaming the halls of Sioux Trail is the SEE Squad, a group of student volunteers who monitor conservation efforts. They make sure lights are switched off in empty classrooms, window shades are drawn on cloudy days (to keep in heat), computer monitors are turned off and faucets aren't leaking. When they find a classroom that's following all the rules, they leave a pleasant Post-It note on the door. When they find problems, they report to Glende.

"It started out two years ago with just a handful of kids, and this year have so many we had to split it up into two teams," Glende said. "They meet during recess, and they have the choice, they can go outside and play or stay inside and do SEE Squad stuff. We have 100 percent participation; they'd rather stay inside. They've really taken ownership in the program."

Sioux Trail also got its students' attention by enlisting the student council's help in producing a series of eight conservation-themed videos. In the five- to seven-minute movies, student council members recite rules about saving energy while footage of random classes show students doing things like turning of lights or closing classroom doors when leaving for recess.

Denise Engberg, Sioux Trail media education assistant and co-advisor to the student council, said the videos were a huge hit.

"We made it fun, we made it silly and we made it informational, because you want to keep the kids' attention," she said. "But we gave them good morsels of information they can embrace here at school."

Last winter, the videos were played school-wide at 2:35 p.m. on Wednesdays.

"One of the few times you could actually hear a pin drop in school was from 2:35 to 2:45, because the kids were just glued to the video," Glende said. "It went over really, really well."

"It became very popular, to the point where I had kids coming up to me saying they wanted to be a part of it, too," Engberg said.

The district's schools also brought in conservation mascots: Dark Mark, who urged kids to turn off lights when not in use, and Energy Hog, Mark's natural foe.

"The last time we had Energy Hog come was in the fall, and I was talking to the guy who plays him," Glende said. "He said that day was the first time he's ever gotten booed. He said, 'The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Your kids get it.' He thought that was the greatest."

Sioux Trail's efforts have been so fruitful, Hale said, Hallberg Engineering would like to use the school as an example for all its clients.

"I am very proud of my student council and their leadership in their school," said Sioux Trail Principal Dr. DeeDee Currier. "I look at it like our children are not only getting an outstanding academic background, but also get a fabulous lesson in leadership."

Because of the program's success, the district plans to continue SEE, to not only save taxpayer dollars but educate an entire generation of students about the importance of conservation, at school and at home.

"The feedback I'm getting from some parents is that absolutely, [students are] bringing this home," Hale said. "Hopefully, we're having long-term effect on kids on and their conservation ideas."

Glende agreed.

"I don't know how many times I've had parents come up to me saying Bobby or Suzy always turn off the lights because they don't want the Energy Hog at their house," he said. "Something is going home with those kids, and that's the whole purpose."

Roaming the halls of Sioux Trail is the SEE Squad, a group of student volunteers who monitor conservation efforts. They make sure lights are switched off in empty classrooms, window shades are drawn on cloudy days (to keep in heat), computer monitors are turned off and faucets aren't leaking. When they find a classroom that's following all the rules, they leave a pleasant Post-It note on the door. When they find problems, they report to Glende.

"It started out two years ago with just a handful of kids, and this year have so many we had to split it up into two teams," Glende said. "They meet during recess, and they have the choice, they can go outside and play or stay inside and do SEE Squad stuff. We have 100 percent participation; they'd rather stay inside. They've really taken ownership in the program."

Sioux Trail also got its students' attention by enlisting the student council's help in producing a series of eight conservation-themed videos. In the five- to seven-minute movies, student council members recite rules about saving energy while footage of random classes show students doing things like turning of lights or closing classroom doors when leaving for recess.

Denise Engberg, Sioux Trail media education assistant and co-advisor to the student council, said the videos were a huge hit.

"We made it fun, we made it silly and we made it informational, because you want to keep the kids' attention," she said. "But we gave them good morsels of information they can embrace here at school."

Last winter, the videos were played school-wide at 2:35 p.m. on Wednesdays.

"One of the few times you could actually hear a pin drop in school was from 2:35 to 2:45, because the kids were just glued to the video," Glende said. "It went over really, really well."

"It became very popular, to the point where I had kids coming up to me saying they wanted to be a part of it, too," Engberg said.

The district's schools also brought in conservation mascots: Dark Mark, who urged kids to turn off lights when not in use, and Energy Hog, Mark's natural foe.

"The last time we had Energy Hog come was in the fall, and I was talking to the guy who plays him," Glende said. "He said that day was the first time he's ever gotten booed. He said, 'The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Your kids get it.' He thought that was the greatest."

Sioux Trail's efforts have been so fruitful, Hale said, Hallberg Engineering would like to use the school as an example for all its clients.

"I am very proud of my student council and their leadership in their school," said Sioux Trail Principal Dr. DeeDee Currier. "I look at it like our children are not only getting an outstanding academic background, but also get a fabulous lesson in leadership."

Because of the program's success, the district plans to continue SEE, to not only save taxpayer dollars but educate an entire generation of students about the importance of conservation, at school and at home.

"The feedback I'm getting from some parents is that absolutely, [students are] bringing this home," Hale said. "Hopefully, we're having long-term effect on kids on and their conservation ideas."

Glende agreed.

"I don't know how many times I've had parents come up to me saying Bobby or Suzy always turn off the lights because they don't want the Energy Hog at their house," he said. "Something is going home with those kids, and that's the whole purpose."