June 05, 2014

 

LAWT News Service      

 

  

With energy conservation support from partners Cenergistic, a majority of Compton Unified School District (CUSD) schools worked hard throughout the first quarter to cut down on electricity, water, and gas consumption.  The result was over $175,000 in savings. 

 

Leading the way for Compton schools are Dominguez High School and Roosevelt Elementary School, whose cost avoidance percentages are 31.17 and 50.79 percent, respectively. 

 

Great energy savings were also produced by schools including Tibby Elementary School (44.49%), Emerson Elementary School (32.49%), Compton High School (29.10%), Bunche Middle School (24.74%) and Willowbrook Middle School (26.59%). 

 

Cenergistic Energy Specialist Milan Stijepovic said Compton Unified has made significant progress throughout the year to curb excessive energy use at all sites.  “Compton schools really answered the District’s call to think green.  We had an exceptional quarter with all three of our high schools, which are the largest cost centers, finishing north of 20 percent,” he said.  “I can’t stress enough how difficult it is to reach this level of performance.  We should also be proud of the fact that 34 percent of our sites absolutely crushed it with 20 to 50 percent in savings over the previous year.”

 

Dominguez High School’s Plant Manager Antonio Saucier said achieving the biggest savings is a matter of bragging rights.  “We take pride in what we do and we want to do better each time.  We don’t want to be outdone by other schools,” he said.  “But competition is very healthy for our whole community.  When everyone wants to do their part we all benefit.”

 

Saucier, who once attended Dominguez in 10th and 11th grade, said communication is the key to his school’s success.  “We’re always reminding each other, students, and teachers to turn off the lights before they leave their classrooms.  We make sure only essential appliances are left on and that no one is wasting water,” he explained.  “It’s best to think about everything the way you would at home.  My water bill is usually the highest so I make sure I don’t leave the water running.  We can do the same anywhere we go.  But what’s most important is that by saving money on energy, we’re saving money that can be used on our children.  That money could be for raises, more benefits, or even improvements to our schools.”

Category: Business