(Caneyville, KY) - Caneyville Elementary has joined the three other Grayson County elementary schools in receiving ENERGY STAR certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The school is the 200th Kentucky school to earn the ENERGY STAR label.
ENERGY STAR designation recognizes schools for their efforts to lower energy costs by improving efficiencies in their buildings. It is part of a federal program that identifies education institutions that are among the top five percent in the nation for energy efficiency.
While the number of Kentucky’s ENERGY STAR school buildings has more than doubled over the last two years, it has just reached 200 with the addition of Caneyville, putting Grayson County elementaries in elite company. The middle and high schools are very close to meeting the threshold.
All ENERGY STAR-certified schools promote energy saving behaviors both at school and at home, utilizing an important opportunity to teach students about environmental stewardship as well as a way to reduce operating costs. Students often play a key role in helping schools successfully gain ENERGY STAR certification as they focus on taking an active role in their school’s energy saving and environmental initiatives.
On average, ENERGY STAR-rated schools use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less greenhouse gasses than an average school. According to EnergyStar.gov, a top performing certified school will cost 40 cents per square foot less to operate than an average school. Based on the most recent state Energy Utilization Index, which measures energy usage per square foot, Grayson County Schools rank 29 out of 174 Kentucky districts.
Grayson County Schools have made overall energy reductions throughout the district. HVAC and lighting renovations in all schools (except newly built Clarkson Elementary) have reduced annual consumption by an equivalent of 63,000 barrels of oil not burned, or nearly 5,900 cars not driven for a year.
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