The three middle schools in the Warren County school district were among the four schools state-wide recognized in Frankfort July 20 for achieving the "Energy Star" award for their efforts to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. Drakes Creek, Henry F. Moss and Warren East middle schools were recognized along with Isaac Shelby Elementary in Jefferson County. Education Cabinet Secretary Virginia Fox and John Davies, director of the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, presented the awards to Warren County Public Schools representatives Jay Wilson (energy manager), Charles Rector (director of maintenance) and Randall Jackson (director of district-wide student and support services).

Energy Star is a program of the federal Environmental Protection Agency that recognizes businesses, schools and individuals for helping protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The Energy Star award distinguishes a school building as one of the top 25 percent in the nation in terms of energy performance. The award-winning schools cost 40 percent less per square foot to operate than the average performers.

Wilson says it is appropriate that representatives from maintenance and the school district's administrative staff were on hand to receive the awards. "This is a team effort," Wilson says. "Our school district has taken a stance to address energy efficiency in building construction and through training of staff and faculty members to be more conscientious energy consumers. Those efforts are paying off."

Wilson also gave credit to the architectural firm Sherman Carter Barnhart and to CMTA Engineering Consultants for helping design and engineer energy efficiencies into Warren County's school buildings. When the three middle schools were renovated and expanded two years ago, they all switched to a geothermal heating and cooling system that has contributed greatly to those schools' energy savings.

"Creating an energy-efficient school requires a three-part responsibility among the building owner for its operation, the architect for the building envelope and the engineer for the building's systems," says Doug Hundley of CMTA. "You can build Energy Star certified schools without spending extra money, but you need to make good decisions when you design the building."

The good decisions being made in the Warren County school district are resulting in significant cost savings, according to Wilson. He says Warren County schools have achieved a cost avoidance of more than $1 million over the past two years. "We can redirect dollars saved from using less energy to address other important issues," Wilson says.

Wilson works closely with Energy Education Inc. (EEI), a Texas-based consulting firm specializing in energy efficiencies. Because of the success of the energy-saving efforts in all Warren County schools, the school district has earned the Energy Pacesetter award from EEI. Wilson expects the Warren County school district to continue its success in being energy efficient. He points out that the new Alvaton Elementary School will be one of the most energy-efficient schools in Kentucky because of the use of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) in construction, other insulating properties and geothermal heating and cooling.

"I am very pleased with the success of this (energy-saving) program," says Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Dale Brown. "The credit goes to Mr. Wilson and the employees of the district. The cost savings will allow us to continue to offer quality instructional programs for the students of Warren County."