Spotlight shines on Ashwaubenon School District's energy record

From an article by Sara Boyd in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

ASHWAUBENON — The Ashwaubenon School District was recognized . . . as the 100th district across the state that agreed to improve energy efficiency by at least 10 percent as part of a program promoted by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton.

Districts participating in the Energy Star Schools Challenge also agree to measure and track the energy performance of their facilities, develop an energy-saving plan and educate staff and area residents about energy efficiency.

"At a time of tight budgets, finding additional ways to conserve energy and save money for taxpayers could not be more important," said David Schmidt, Ashwaubenon School District superintendent.

Mike Beno, Ashwaubenon High School's building and grounds coordinator, pointed to a number of efforts the school has done to achieve a 30 percent reduction in energy consumption since 2003, including a computerized energy management program that controls the heating and cooling for four of the five schools in the district.

"The students have actually become some of our greatest advocates of this program," he said. "It's amazing how quickly they catch on and how quickly they get to lead the program."