District energy conservation results in national award

Five buildings in the Cohoes City School District were recently awarded the federal government's ENERGY STAR Label, an award that is presented to the most energy-efficient school buildings in the country. The district as a whole was also named an ENERGY STAR Leader for its overall energy savings.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition," said Cohoes City School District Superintendent Robert Libby. "Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars and during difficult budget times, this savings is crucial."

Since the district started participating with Energy Education's energy-conservation program in 2004, it has saved $616,397. The environmental impact on just electricity savings is equal to taking 332 cars off the road or planting 39,339 trees in the community. Since the program was first implemented, the Cohoes City School District has saved about 30 percent on its energy and utility costs.

The schools that received the ENERGY STAR Label include Cohoes High School, Cohoes Middle School, Harmony Hill School, Van Schaick Grade School and Page Avenue School. To be recognized with an ENERGY STAR Label, school buildings must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency.

The Cohoes City School District's energy conservation program is projected to save over $2 million through the first 10 years of its energy conservation program.