Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools reduced energy costs 6 percent from 2016 to 2017. That’s what Bob Rice, the school district’s energy manager, told the HSE School Board Wednesday night. That means the school corporation spent $244,000 less comparing 2016 to 2017. When adjusted for weather, the savings are even higher.
“We’ve also reduced the amount of CO2 that we are putting into the atmosphere by 3,800 pounds,” Rice told the board. “HSE would have had to plant 19,000 trees to make that same impact on the environment.”
Rice added the school system’s energy savings from 2016 to 2017 would be the same as taking 600 cars off the road.
In 2018, Rice says the local school district is on track for a 5 percent energy savings compared to 2017. The energy consumption is going down, even as the student population grows. These savings were realized despite a utility rate increase.