Liberty Middle School and Prune Hill Elementary are first schools in Camas to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the Energy Star.
Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By following and implementing new energy policies, the District improved energy performance by managing energy strategically across our entire district and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings. Camas School District conservation efforts have decreased utility cost for the district by 20% from last year.
The EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the Energy Star. Commercial Buildings that can earn the Energy Star include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.
Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.
Visit www.energystar.gov for more information about the Energy Star program.
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