BASD Trying to Save Energy, Money
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
The Bradford Area School District is taking steps to mitigate the anticipated increase in electricity costs when the rate caps that have been in place since 1997 come off in December.
During Monday's school board meeting, business manager Kathy Kelly recommended that the district enter into an agreement with OnDemand, an energy solutions company, that will buy electricity for the district.
She explained that when buying transportation fuel, the district can get it at cheap rates and store it. However, since electricity can't be stored, that's a different story.
"They (OnDemand) actually find large amounts of electricity at different rates and at different times," Kelly said.
Superintendent Sandra Romanowski added that school districts in Allegheny County, where deregulation has already occurred, are using a co-op system and it's been "very successful."
Kelly said she's increased next year's budget for energy costs by 20 percent.
She said going with OnDemand, along with the Clear Choice program and the district's Go Green Committee, should help to keep costs under control.
"I'm hoping we won't need that 20 percent increase," she said, "but worst case scenario, we've got it in there."
Last month, the school board voted to enter into an agreement with Clear Choice Energy for a conservation program, in which electricity consumers get paid to reduce their electric usage during emergencies on the electric grid in order to prevent a blackout in the area.
The first year payment to the district is expected to be $17,578.
As for going green, students from three schools gave presentations on what they're doing to reduce energy costs.
Among the initiatives is the "Green Police," who hand out "citations" for violations such as teachers keeping lights on in their rooms when they leave, or keeping a computer monitor turned on when it's not in use.
The GGB students also noted that many classrooms have enough sunlight that lights don't even have to be turned on.
The schools are also saving cooking oil to use as biodiesel fuel.
"As you can see, these students are really a power to be reckoned with," Romanowski said.
Also during Monday's meeting, the board approved a trip to Disney World for students in the music department to watch and evaluate a variety of musical performances. There will be no cost to the district.
The board also learned that the district-wide science fair is scheduled for May 7 at Fretz Middle School and that 50 students will be going to the Natural Gas Expo next week in Coudersport.
Also Monday, student representatives of GGB, School Street and Fretz were presented with Keystone Awards for making "adequate yearly progress" two years in a row.
"Fretz spent a lot of time turning it around," Romanowski said. "Their teachers are particularly excited to see their Keystone coming to their building. Fretz, you did it."
WESB/WBRR News Director
The Bradford Area School District is taking steps to mitigate the anticipated increase in electricity costs when the rate caps that have been in place since 1997 come off in December.
During Monday's school board meeting, business manager Kathy Kelly recommended that the district enter into an agreement with OnDemand, an energy solutions company, that will buy electricity for the district.
She explained that when buying transportation fuel, the district can get it at cheap rates and store it. However, since electricity can't be stored, that's a different story.
"They (OnDemand) actually find large amounts of electricity at different rates and at different times," Kelly said.
Superintendent Sandra Romanowski added that school districts in Allegheny County, where deregulation has already occurred, are using a co-op system and it's been "very successful."
Kelly said she's increased next year's budget for energy costs by 20 percent.
She said going with OnDemand, along with the Clear Choice program and the district's Go Green Committee, should help to keep costs under control.
"I'm hoping we won't need that 20 percent increase," she said, "but worst case scenario, we've got it in there."
Last month, the school board voted to enter into an agreement with Clear Choice Energy for a conservation program, in which electricity consumers get paid to reduce their electric usage during emergencies on the electric grid in order to prevent a blackout in the area.
The first year payment to the district is expected to be $17,578.
As for going green, students from three schools gave presentations on what they're doing to reduce energy costs.
Among the initiatives is the "Green Police," who hand out "citations" for violations such as teachers keeping lights on in their rooms when they leave, or keeping a computer monitor turned on when it's not in use.
The GGB students also noted that many classrooms have enough sunlight that lights don't even have to be turned on.
The schools are also saving cooking oil to use as biodiesel fuel.
"As you can see, these students are really a power to be reckoned with," Romanowski said.
Also during Monday's meeting, the board approved a trip to Disney World for students in the music department to watch and evaluate a variety of musical performances. There will be no cost to the district.
The board also learned that the district-wide science fair is scheduled for May 7 at Fretz Middle School and that 50 students will be going to the Natural Gas Expo next week in Coudersport.
Also Monday, student representatives of GGB, School Street and Fretz were presented with Keystone Awards for making "adequate yearly progress" two years in a row.
"Fretz spent a lot of time turning it around," Romanowski said. "Their teachers are particularly excited to see their Keystone coming to their building. Fretz, you did it."
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Comments
"Among the initiatives is the "Green Police," who hand out "citations" for violations such as teachers keeping lights on in their rooms when they leave, or keeping a computer monitor turned on when it's not in use."
Creating awareness among students are crucial because they can greatly influence other friends and their own household to practice energy-saving measures.