Energy Star honors two Partners of the Year in Western territory
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Western, Ft. Collins Utilities and Platte River Power Authority helped Poudre School District create a wind power display at Zach Elementary School to teach students about renewable energy. The display uses real scale models of wind turbines powered by a PV panel Western donated. (photo courtesy of PSD)
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Anyone who thinks that energy efficiency is a luxury for companies with deep pockets need only take a look at the diverse programs that won 2003 Energy Star Partner of the Year awards for Poudre School District and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency.
The Environmental Protection Agency honored the northern Colorado school district, the power wholesaler and 37 other businesses and organizations at the Partner of Year awards ceremony in April. In the presence of corporate giants like Kodak and Panasonic, PSD and SMMPA proved that size doesn't matter when it comes to making a difference. It's commitment that counts, and both organizations' wise energy use predates their participation in the Federal program.
Second award commends school district's ongoing efficiency efforts
PSD was the only school district in the country to receive the Partner of Year award in 2003 for having 10 schools that earned the Energy Star label. A building must score at least 75 out of 100 possible points on an EPA assessment to qualify. The buildings ranged in age from Harris Elementary School built in 1919 to Traut Elementary built in 1999, the year before PSD became an Energy Star Partner.
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| Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency used Energy Star marketing materials to create a successful program promoting energy efficiency to residential consumers. |
The EPA recognized the school district in 2001
for having four qualifying facilities, including Harris,
the first school in the nation to score 100 on its assessment.
"It's part of an ongoing program," said PSD Energy
Manager Stuart Reeve.
"We've completed 95 energy- efficienct projects since 1994
for an annual savings of more than $300,000. And all that money
goes back into education."
Making energy efficiency a priority is one of the reasons for the school district's success, Reeve pointed out. Using Energy Star performance standards, PSD benchmarks each of its 45 schools yearly. "It helps us prioritize our resources and it keeps motivation high," he explained adding, "This year, the scores of every school went up."
Team efforts help PSD build on success
Benchmarking tells PSD what needs to be improved; partnerships give it the tools to make the improvements. "Our working relationships with Ft. Collins Utilities, Platte River Power Authority and Western go back several years, well before the Energy Star program," said Reeve. "Those relationships are especially helpful when it comes to keeping up with new technologies."
For example, when PSD recently decided to upgrade gymnasium lighting, Reeve contacted Western's Rocky Mountain Regional Energy Services Manager Peggy Plate to get information on the latest systems.
Plate arranged a teleconference with Jim Rogers, an independent energy consultant with hands-on experience in metal halide-to-fluorescent gymnasium conversions. Rogers' advice enabled the school district to select a lighting system that will put more energy dollars back into the classroom.
Lighting upgrades and automated environmental controls have provided PSD with the most savings for the investment. More recent projects include sharing a raw water irrigation system with the city parks department and building a new high school with a rooftop PV array.
Reeve considers educating staff and students about energy efficiency to be an important conservation measure as well. "We are not just saving money; we're setting an example—teaching people that everyone has responsibility for the environment."
G&T uses Energy Star program to promote residential efficiency
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency became an Energy Star partner in 2001, but wasted no time in making the program its own. "I think one of the reasons we got the award was because SMMPA embraced the concept so fully in such a short time," observed Director of Corporate Development & Agency Relations Larry Johnston.
The generation and transmission company, which supplies power to 18 municipal members—including three Western customers—joined Energy Star with a specific goal in mind. "On the commercial/industrial side of our business, SMMPA has evolved to provide members with energy services like key account support and DSM programs," explained Johnston. "We wanted to bring the residential side into parity, but that was going to take more marketing resources than we or our members had."
The 2001 "Change a Light, Change the World" promotion was SMMPA's first Energy Star initiative. The campaign featured rebates toward the purchase of compact fluorescent lights. "It was a great way to introduce end users to Energy Star products, and best of all, we didn't have to reinvent the wheel. The program was already in place," Johnston stated. "That's crucial for getting small utilities to buy into a project."
And buy in they did. The promotion was so popular that the participating members wanted to continue it year around. In October 2002, 13 SMMPA utilities teamed up with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Ace Hardware to promote CFLs, doubling the number of lights purchased the previous year. SMMPA and all its members decided to repeat the CFL rebate program in 2003.
Rebate program tailored to meet utility, customer needs
The success of efficient lighting encouraged SMMPA to launch a whole suite of incentives. The program offers rebates on central air conditioners, room air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes washers and dishwashers. Recycling incentives are included with refrigerators and room air conditioners. Customers can also get educational information on other energy-saving appliances like programmable thermostats, ceiling fans and home audio and video equipment through the program.
Members promote the rebates to their consumers with collateral materials SMMPA designed using Energy Star artwork. "We tailored brochures, ads, coupons, point-of-purchase displays and in-utility displays to create a turn-key marketing operation," said Johnston. "Even our smallest member has access to national-caliber materials."
One aspect of Energy Star's materials SMMPA found it needed to adapt was its focus on special promotions. "That's more of a mass marketing mindset. Utilities see things differently," Johnston observed. "Whenever an old appliance breaks down, we want our customers to replace it with an energy efficient one. They are not always able to wait for the big sale. We retooled the program to operate 12 months a year."
Retail consumers showed their appreciation by taking advantage of the offers. Dishwashers proved to be the most popular appliance, with 530 rebates redeemed so far this year. Clothes washers accounted for 372 rebates, and 218 customers replaced outdated refrigerators with energy-efficient models.
As with PSD, partnerships played an important role in helping the small G&T accomplish big things. Johnston points to a joint promotion on Energy Star clothes washers with Sears. "Now we have Sears sales associates in 33 stores telling consumers about the benefits of Energy Star appliances," he said. "A small utility couldn't put together a campaign like that without Energy Star's contacts and name recognition."
Johnston forgot to mention the power of determination. Poudre School District and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency set out to run the most energy-efficient operations possible, and they leverage every resource to help them toward that goal. The two organizations have earned their place at the table with the big boys. Congratulations, partners of the year.