Courtney looking to slice school energy expenditures

SCHOOLS

New London Day

Erin Kutz

Boston University Washington News Service
February 26, 2008

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-2nd District) is trying to bring federal help to Connecticut's failing schools. They're not failing academically but environmentally.

Connecticut school buildings scored an average of 26 out of 100 in energy efficiency based on the Energy Star rating developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a 2006 study conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University. Schools were scoring so low that officials at the institute thought something was wrong with the rating system, recalled William Leahy, executive director of operations for the institute.

Courtney said the study spurred his decision to help found the Congressional Green Schools Caucus, a group of members of Congress from across the country that advocates for enhanced school energy efficiency. Two weeks ago, Courtney announced that he was co-sponsoring legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) that calls for the Secretary of Education to authorize competitive grants nationally for school construction projects that enhance energy efficiency.

“It is eye-popping, in terms of the waste that is occurring in Connecticut public schools,” Courtney said.

The Eastern study analyzed 119 schools that were statistically representative of the 1,026 Connecticut public school buildings at the time and also incorporated data that 237 schools voluntarily submitted.

The study found that 90 percent of state public school buildings were constructed before 1978—when energy shortages prompted greater conservation measures—and 68 percent were built between 1950 and 1978, when expanding populations forced the rapid construction of school buildings with little regard for energy efficiency.

“We're bearing a huge burden in terms of that legacy of school construction,” Courtney said.

The study also showed that making Connecticut school buildings merely average, as measured by the Energy Star program, would save $46 million in energy costs. This however was calculated based on 2006 energy figures, with oil costing around $60 a barrel. Savings would escalate with oil prices now close to $100 per barrel, Courtney said.

Towns currently finance school building renovations with bonds or construction grant programs from the state, Leahy said. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund pays half the cost of school renewable energy projects and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund provides financial assistance for schools looking to upgrade to more efficient energy equipment. The Department of Public Utility Control also helps schools pay for installation of efficient generators, Leahy said. He noted that this existing financial aid only focuses on reducing electricity usage but doesn't cut down on fuel output.

“The problem is that none of these programs address the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, either for national security reasons or climate change reasons,” he said. “These programs, coupled with a federal grant program would be excellent for improving Connecticut schools.”

The Windham High School building scored an eight in the Eastern Connecticut study, said Windham Superintendent Paul Perzanoski. The system responded by replacing boilers and ordering new windows, which should come in next month, he said. They’re also building a generator for the high school to use when power is in high demand in the area – days for which the power company will give the school rebates.

The consulting company that oversaw the construction projected annual savings to be $260,000, which after 14 years, would cover the cost of construction.

“We're looking forward to seeing the savings,” Windham First Selectman Jean deSmet said. “This is how towns like ours are going to survive the energy crisis.”

Leahy said that while energy efficient construction elements can be more expensive up-front, school systems need to consider the long-term savings opportunities.

“They need to connect the initial cost of the school to what it’s going to cost over its life and spend more money on the front end of the school so it doesn’t create horrendous energy bills,” he said.

Courtney said the savings in energy would bolster educational quality and facilitate the passage of yearly town budgets, or what he called “the annual ritual of pain.”

Enhancing school energy efficiency could save 25 percent of the $8 billion schools spend on energy nationally, a Courtney press release said. The savings could translate into 30,000 new teachers or 40 million additional textbooks each year, according to the press release.

The bill co-sponsored by Courtney was taken up by the House Education and Labor Committee. Courtney said he expects Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) to incorporate Holt’s bill into a larger measure on school construction later this year. Courtney said the bill faces positive prospects, particularly at a time when the nation is concerned with mitigating the effects of both global warming and dependence on foreign fuels.

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