LBUSD Earns Conservation Award

Each school in the Long Beach Unified School District has earned Energy Star Certification, having taken part in an eight-year conservation effort that has saved $29.1 million since 2003.

The certification is awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. It is based upon an international standard for energy efficiency.

Buildings that earn the Energy Star use 35 percent less energy and generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings across the nation.

There are 84 schools in the LBUSD, making it the third largest school district in California.

LBUSD began its conservation efforts by hiring two full-time energy managers. LBUSD also implemented energy policies and guidelines aimed at researching, measuring and reducing the usage of electricity, gas and water.

With all 84 school sites being certified, LBUSD now maintains 30 percent of the Energy Star-certified schools in California, according to a staff report at a recent LBUSD Board of Education meeting.

"To have 84 schools recognized is absolutely amazing," said LBUSD Chief Business and Financial officer, James Novak. "Most school districts have a big celebration if one or two schools are recognized."

The conservation effort has derailed the emission of nearly 62,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. It would take 1.5 million trees about ten years to eliminate that amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, according to the staff report.

Each newly certified school will receive a certificate to display at the school.