LANSDALE – The North Penn School District is proud to announce that 15 of its buildings have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR label, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. This signifies that the building’s energy performance rates are in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide.
Four North Penn schools were honored with an ENERGY STAR label plaque at the February 16th school board meeting. This is the first time that that each of these schools has earned ENERGY STAR label status. Congratulations to North Penn High School and Gwyn-Nor, Hatfield and North Wales elementary schools. They now join the following North Penn ENERGY STAR labeled buildings: Bridle Path Elementary School (2008, 2010, 2011), Gwynedd Square Elementary School (2009, 2010, 2011), A.M. Kulp Elementary School (2011), Montgomery Elementary School (2011), Oak Park Elementary School (2011), Walton Farm Elementary School (2010, 2011), York Avenue Elementary School (2009, 2010, 2011), Penndale Middle School (2011), Pennfield Middle School (2010, 2011), Northbridge School (2009, 2010, 2011) and the Educational Services Center (2010, 2011).
Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. NPSD has been improving its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its building(s).
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.
North Penn’s portfolio rating is now 86 with a 25% energy reduction for all buildings, over the baseline year, according to John Strobel, Manager of Support Services. Strobel also recognized the important energy conservation efforts of all staff and students in making this change happen.
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 2007, 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.