Vail Ranch Middle Schoolers Learn About TVUSD's Energy Conservation Program

TEMECULA, CA -- Tuesday, October 29, 2013-- Vail Ranch Middle School teacher, Kelly Maxey leads a program at her school called S.T.E.A.M, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The program provides students with a hands-on, project-based curriculum to solve real-world problems using the S.T.E.A.M disciplines. Earlier this month, Mrs. Maxey invited Temecula Valley Unified School District’s (TVUSD) Energy Education Specialists, Scott Krefft and Greg Page to talk to her class about the district’s efforts to reduce energy use.

Mrs. Maxey says, “In class, we’ve been working on a unit that deals with the real-life issues of energy usage.” During their presentation, Scott and Greg went over the energy pyramid of conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Mrs. Maxey says, “They really inspired us to take action in the quest to reduce our carbon footprint on this planet!”

In the fall of 2012, TVUSD partnered with Cenergistic, which is a national behavior-based conservation program that works with school districts to help them reduce their energy costs. Since starting the program, TVUSD has saved $2 million in cost avoidance. Scott and Greg shared some of the methods they’re using such as an energy-accounting software from EnergyCAP, Inc. The software compares current energy use to a baseline period and calculates the amount of energy that would have been used if conservation and management practices had not been implemented. It adjusts for weather, equipment additions or deletions, and changes in building use. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, EnergyCAP helps TVUSD quickly identify and correct any wasteful energy use that needs to be addressed.

About Cenergistic: Cenergistic is a technology-powered, data-driven energy conservation company that helps organizations reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas, fuel, oil, and water. Its proven approach is built on a proprietary methodology, which optimizes clients’ infrastructure, improves internal processes and changes behavior to ensure that savings endure. All costs of the Cenergistic program come from the existing utility budget, with savings guaranteed to more than pay for the program.

—News release submitted by Temecula Valley Unified School District