SPARK

Discoveries, innovations, and insights that illuminate the future of the built environment

Carson City School District turns energy action into impact

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“We use more than a third less energy than an average school,” said Mark Korinek, director of operations services for the Carson City School District. “As a district, we recently reduced our Energy Use Intensity (EUI) from 46 to 41. The 46 EUI number last year, down from 49 in 2014, was really remarkable to begin with, but to see a decrease even from there is truly a testament to our retrofit project and McKinstry’s energy-awareness and behavioral change program called powerED.”

The powerED program engages students and staff across the district in energy, water and waste conservation efforts. The program promotes energy efficiency and how to eliminate waste within facilities, ultimately helping the district save money. Much of this effort is focused on demonstrating to students and staff how small changes—such as turning off lights, biking to school, recycling and composting, shutting off unused electronics and buying locally produced items—can make a difference in their lives every day.

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Tahoma’s powerED Green Team kicks the year in gear

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eam_tahomaThe new school year ushers in Green Team kickoffs for powerED schools across the country. Tahoma School District in Maple Valley, Wash. kicked the year in gear last week with Green Team meetings at schools like Maple View Middle.

Tahoma School District serves more than 8,200 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. The district is recognized as innovative in its development and use of curriculum, including a focus on sustainability across all grade levels. Test scores place Tahoma students among Washington’s top five percent on average!

To date, more than 20,500 teachers, students and family members nationwide have pledged to save energy and cut waste through McKinstry’s powerED program. That action has reduced energy consumption 17 percent district wide and avoided 918 metric tons of carbon emissions. Maple View Middle is responsible for an amazing 358 metric tons of carbon avoided—nearly 40 percent of the district’s total!

Congratulations to Tahoma School District and Maple View Middle, and best of luck for another successful Green Team year!

Join McKinstry and our clients as we celebrate Energy Action Month by pledging to take action. If you think you can’t affect the future of energy consumption, you’re wrong. It takes all of us, every day, taking actions small and big. Together, we CAN build a thriving planet.

How did your school spend its summer vacation?

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For many K-12 districts, the last day of school for students doesn’t necessarily mean the buildings are taking an extended recess. Instead, it marks the kickoff of a busy construction season that relies on superintendents, building operators, project engineers, construction managers, commissioning agents and many others to collaborate on anything from a boiler replacement to a major remodel—and have it completed in less than 12 weeks before classes are back in session.

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A new way to fund school facility upgrades

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Photo by Ervins Strauhmanis, via Flickr.

One of the great pleasures of McKinstry’s work in the Great Lakes region is working with K-12 school districts every day. Unfortunately—due to budget pressures caused by increasing costs and declining state funding—we find these districts are too-often forced to delay necessary improvements to their school facilities. Accordingly, we often work with districts to find alternative funding sources for much-needed facility and infrastructure upgrades that aim to improve the learning environment.

Project delays due to inadequate funding often lead to costly emergency repairs. Even worse, such delays can further a public perception that a district doesn’t plan or maintain their facilities properly. Most vitally, though, these delays can have an adverse effect on classroom effectiveness.

So, how can school districts avoid disastrous delays while also staying within their budget constraints? McKinstry has the answer!

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