2008 Andromeda Star Award Winner: York County Schools (Va.)

Since 2004, Virginia’s York County School Division has reduced its energy consumption by more than 48 billion Btu, saving more than $1 million in energy costs. The division’s three-member energy management team has developed and implemented an aggressive two-pronged approach for reducing pollution and energy waste. The division began by implementing energy-saving and sustainable building design practices such as energy-efficient T-8 & T-5 lighting that has reduced costs by nearly 40 percent; energy recovery units that drastically reduce the amount of energy needed to condition fresh air entering the building; and classroom, office, cafeteria, and gymnasium occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights when areas are unoccupied and, in most schools, shift heating and cooling set points.

The hallmark of the division’s energy-saving efforts is the six geothermally heated and cooled schools. Geothermal systems not only reduce energy consumption, but also significantly reduces the need for maintenance and repairs. In addition, an enhanced building automation system controls and monitors the buildings’ mechanical operations to further reduce energy consumption. The division instituted a plan to educate employees, students, and the community about energy efficiency by promoting environmental initiatives such as Earth Day and the federal ENERGY STAR program’s “Change-a-Light” campaign. York County School Division has six of the seven school buildings in the Commonwealth of Virginia recognized with the EPA’s Energy Star Building certification.

“The York County School Division takes pride in its energy management team and energy conservation efforts that save energy and money without sacrificing the comfort and security of our students, teachers and staff,” said Douglas Meade, the division’s director of information technology, who is responsible for all energy management and direct digital control building automation systems.