The Rochester City School District (RCSD) Green Schools Program in Rochester, NY, has been a strong participant of the Green Schools program since 2003 and continues on this year.
The District continues to support the program by rebating 50% of the energy costs saved or energy costs avoided as a result of documented Green Club activities. Documented savings from the 2005-2006 year exceeded $120,000 and more than $60,000 was rebated to schools. Wilson High School received $8,000 and Elementary School #12 received $7,205 in rebates.
At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, local companies in Rochester, New York generously donated $10,000 to the Rochester City School District in support of the Green Schools Program. The funds from the generous donators - Wendel Energy Services, IBC Energy, M/E Engineering, UGU/ Gasmark Energy, Stantec, and Day Automation - will go to the District in support of energy activities of Green Schools teachers and students, who have done great work learning about and saving energy in their schools.
As with all Green Schools programs, students work with school staff, engineers, and other professionals on strategies for conserving energy at home and in their school. Unique to Rochester, however, each school is responsible for quantifying their savings projects and reporting the results of their campaigns. At the end of the year, the school district returns a rebate of 50% of the savings achieved by the team at each school for use in further energy education.
Twenty-one Rochester schools operated "Green Teams" during the 2007-2008 school year and realized energy cost savings totaling $102,000 this year. The team at Wilson Foundation Academy, where the donation ceremony took place, achieved more than $13,000 in cost avoidance and savings. The average amount returned to schools was $3,495 which means that, on average, schools save 49,937 kWh and prevent 33 tons of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere each.
Monroe High School saved the most energy, avoiding 147,877.3 kWh, 99 tons of C02, and $20,363 by removing 11 small refrigerators, 7 microwaves, 1 kitchen cooler, and 12 coffee machines; turning off lights in the boys and girls gym; using daylighting in 90 classrooms; and turning off computer monitors every night.
Rochester continues during the 2008-2009 year with about 20 schools participating.
For more information on this program, please contact Local Project Leader Maurice Bell at MBELL30@Rochester.rr.com.
