FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 3, 2014
CONTACT:
Christine Liberaski
Manager, School/Community Engagement
North Penn School District
215-853-1020
Liberacd@npenn.org
Kristinn Leonhart
ENERGY STAR Brand Manager
(202) 343-9062
Leonhart.Kristinn@epa.gov
EPA NAMES NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT
2014 ENERGY STAR® PARTNER OF THE YEAR
North Penn School District Earns Award for Protecting the Environment through
Superior Energy Efficiency
Lansdale, PA, – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
recognized North Penn School District as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the
Year for strategically managing and improving the energy efficiency of its
entire building portfolio. Through its partnership with the ENERGY STAR
program, North Penn School District has improved its energy performance,
saved money, and helped to protect the environment for future generations.
This is the second year in a row for NPSD to earn the Partner of the Year
designation.
“Making our buildings more energy efficient has significantly improved our
budget balancing efforts,” said Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D., superintendent,
NPSD. “By managing our energy use in partnership with ENERGY STAR, we
are not only saving money, but we’re reducing our greenhouse gas emissions
and helping in the fight against climate change.”
With a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building
improvement, EPA’s ENERGY STAR program provides a proven energy
management strategy that has helped North Penn School District achieve
important reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Key
accomplishments of North Penn School District award-winning energy
management program include:

Receiving recognition as an ENERGY STAR Leader for 30% reduction
and receiving the ENERGY STAR label for all 20 of the district’s
building. Once all of the buildings achieved an ENERGY STAR rating of
75 or greater, the rating has been maintained or increased year over
year with the first five buildings maintaining this rating for five
consecutive years.

Engaging more than 3,000 students in the PowerSave Schools
program. Students launched awareness campaigns, prepared
websites, performed energy audits, interpreted data, made
recommendations, and developed award methods for good energy
practices.

Avoiding $3.2 million in cost since the inception of the program and
partnering with ENERGY STAR. This cost avoidance has maintained
North Penn’s other strategic initiatives in student achievements and
the ability to retain programs. The $3.2 million saved over the last four
years is enough to fund the entire advanced placement program at the
high school.

Delivering more than 10 presentations outlining the importance of
energy management throughout North Penn School District’s schools
and the benefit of using ENERGY STAR tools and resources to advance
energy management programs. As well as, educating the community
on the benefits of energy management programs in annual reports,
school-based calendars, and media outlets.
“Innovative strategies in energy management are some of the most costeffective ways to improve the bottom line in the places we work, shop, and
play,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “North Penn School
District’s leadership in energy management supports the well-being of
American families while also fighting climate change.”
“The entire North Penn Community must be commended for their continual
efforts to reduce energy,” said Thomas Schneider, Manager of Energy and
Operational Efficiencies, North Penn School District. ”The 2014 Energy Star
Partner of the Year Award for Energy Management is recognition that proves
that North Penn continues to be a national leader in energy conservation.”
The 2014 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations
to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
through superior energy efficiency. The award winners are selected from the
16,000 partners that participate in the ENERGY STAR program and will be
recognized in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2014.
Through 2013, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and
businesses have saved $297 billion on utility bills and prevented more than
2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
About North Penn School District
North Penn School District, located in Lansdale, PA, educates more than 12,500
students across more than 2 million square feet of space. The district's mission is
to provide an effective, innovative, student-focused community of teaching and
learning in which students will become independent, life-long learners; exhibit
creative and critical thinking; achieve proficiency in all academic areas; adapt to
a changing technological world; and become productive, responsible citizens of
the global society.
In 2008, North Penn School District became an ENERGY STAR Partner, and as
a part of its Strategic Plan, established a Goal of Environmental Stewardship,
which is to develop an environmentally friendly demeanor by incorporating
system-wide practices that reflect stewardship of the environment. These
practices include teaching students to be respectful of the environment, to be
conservative in their use of resources, and to practice recycling and conservation
with diligence.
This successful initiative has led to increased energy efficiency and has instilled
a sustainable energy ethic throughout the district's facilities and to its staff
members and students. The district's energy efficiency efforts have been led by
the Facilities Department, and a partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, all
of whom continue to provide ongoing on-site training and oversight.
Since the inception of the NPSD Energy Management program, NPSD has
yielded a total reduction of over 22,425,000 kwh and 19,900 mmtbu of fossil fuel.
This equates to approximately 42,300,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, which
would have the ability to power 2,700 homes for the year.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers
businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money,
and help protect the environment for future generations. 16,000
organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy
efficiency of products, homes, and buildings. For more information about
ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1888-782-7937).
###