FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 5, 2013
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Christine Liberaski
Manager, School/Community Engagement
North Penn School District
215-853-1020
liberacd@npenn.org
Kristinn Vazquez
ENERGY STAR Brand Manager
(202) 343-9062
Vazquez.Kristinn@epa.gov
EPA NAMES NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT
2013 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 (NPSD) as a 2013 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, NPSD has improved its energy performance, saved
money, and helped to protect the environment for future generations.
“Managing our energy use in partnership with ENERGY STAR has significantly
improved our financial position,” said Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed. D.,
superintendent, NPSD. “Making North Penn’s buildings more energy efficient
is one of the most effective ways for us to prevent pollution and save money,
and we are honored to be recognized by EPA for our efforts.”
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 NPSD achieve important reductions in
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Key accomplishments of North
Penn’s award-winning energy management program include:

Receiving recognition as an ENERGY STAR Top Performer in 2012,
ENERGY STAR Leader for improving the energy performance of its
facilities by more than 20 percent in 2012 and 30 percent in 2013.

Engaging more than 400 students in the district’s energy management
program through a grant funded program called PowerSave Schools
offered by the Alliance to Save Energy. Students launched awareness
campaigns, prepared websites, performed energy audits, interpreted
data, made recommendations, and developed award methods for good
energy practices.

Saving more than $1.1 million in utility costs, an amount equal to the
combined salaries of 21 first-year teachers. This was achieved through
operational and behavioral changes and with no capital expenditure.

Achieved ENERGY STAR ratings of 75 or higher for all twenty (20)
buildings, improving the overall District’s ENERGY STAR rating from 70
to 93 and taking thirteen (13) buildings above the rating of 90 with ten
(10) of those above 95.
“Superior energy management is our most cost-effective climate
strategy and North Penn School District continues to exemplify
leadership in this category,” said Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “[Partner’s] innovative
practices provide a model for energy management in the places we
work, shop, and play. These strategies help the bottom line and
support the well-being of families across America by reducing pollution
and protecting the environment.”
EPA’s annual ENERGY STAR Awards honor organizations that have made
outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior
energy efficiency. The award winners are selected from nearly 20,000
partners that participate in the ENERGY STAR program and will be recognized
at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2013. Over the
last 20 years, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and
businesses have saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented
more than 1.8 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, the Energy Manager, and a partnership with the
Alliance to Save Energy, all of whom continue to provide ongoing on-site training
and oversight.
Since its 2008 baseline, the district has experienced more than $2.5 million in
cost savings, despite changes in the price of energy. Compared to its 2008
baseline, North Penn School District reduced energy consumption by more than
37%. Currently NPSD prevents the emissions of more than 5,600 metric tons of
carbon dioxide annually, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon not
released by more than 144,600 tree seedlings planted and grown for 10 years.
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. Nearly 20,000
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).
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