The Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Energy Education Fund has announced the winners of this year’s Moving to the Head of the Class Awards.  The annual awards program celebrates schools that have realized significant energy savings through energy efficiency and conservation measures.

This year, the award goes to three schools, with three honorable mentions.  Winners were selected from applications from across the Commonwealth:

-- Springhouse Middle School in Allentown, Lehigh County: With a team of teachers and support staff, Springhouse Middle School students save energy through with support from PPL's Act 129 Continuous Energy Improvement Program, their Think Energy! program and the Bright Ideas poster contest. Their creative student engagement includes a "Green Cribs" project, where students create short video documentaries that explore their own homes' savings potential, and feature teaching members of their community how to save energy. Springhouse Middle's energy savings through behavioral changes was impressive!

-- Parkland High School in Allentown, Lehigh County: Parkland High School spearheaded a multifaceted behavioral change program that begins with a Continuous Energy Improvement (CEI) team of teachers, administrators, custodial staff and business members that meet monthly, and includes green teams that involve students in a variety of creative projects to promote energy conservation and efficiency.  Parkland is supported by PPL's Act 129 Energy Efficiency Education Programs, and implemented smart metering and tracking software to monitor and adjust their efforts as needed.

-- McKee Elementary School in Oakdale, Allegheny County: Part of 2016's Honorable Mentions, West Allegheny School District, McKee Elementary School has engaged their Director of Buildings, grounds team, teachers, students and staff in a behavioral strategy, in-class lessons in energy efficiency, and incentives for faculty and staff that encourage compliance with shutdown procedures. The school has participated in their local utility's Act 129 programs to both educate students and implement capital improvements like lighting, HVAC and controls projects to save energy and money.

-- Moshannon Valley Jr.-Sr. High in Houtzdale, Clearfield County – honorable mention;

-- Donaldson Elementary School in Oakdale, Allegheny County – honorable mention; and

-- The Corry Area School District in Corry, Erie County – honorable mention.

Together, these six schools have saved 2,951,657 kilowatt hours of electricity –roughly enough electricity to power 300 Pennsylvania homes for a year.

Because each school implemented student education as part of their energy saving plans, students are likely saving thousands more kilowatt hours in their homes, as well. 

The awards are made possible by the generous support of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, this energy efficiency award provides a unique opportunity for K-12 schools in Pennsylvania to receive recognition for all of the work they have done to save energy and money.

Past award winners have together saved over 10,000,000 kWh and $1,300,000!

The awards will be conferred upon the winning schools in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on May 17 at 9:00 a.m. with many invited guests including legislators, representatives of electric utilities and businesses involved in helping the schools complete program work.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance website.

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[Posted: April 13, 2017]

4/17/2017