In the course of competing for the Georgetown Energy Prize, the Cambridge Energy Alliance has made sure that outreach and cooperation with locals schools is a priority for our energy reduction strategy. Some people may ask, “Why schools?”
The reason schools are so important is that they are the single largest source of municipal energy use in Cambridge. In fact, on a country-wide basis, the EPA estimates that 25% of energy use in schools is wasted. Of the energy, most come from sources similar to many homeowners: mainly lighting and cooling.
By implementing energy efficiency measures, many K-12 schools have been able to reduce energy costs by as much as 30 percent in existing facilities. The Energy Alliance is very aware of this and has made informing schools and working with them to develop energy efficiency behavior a major priority for the Georgetown Prize Win It! Campaign. Simple behavioral and operational measures alone can achieve energy savings of up to 25 percent school-wide.
Educating K-12 students about energy efficiency is also one of the major judging criteria for the Prize. Currently, the City of Cambridge is working with Fletcher Maynard Academy, John M. Tobin Montessori School, The Peabody School, The Amigos School, and The Haggerty School to implement free energy education programs over the coming year. We are currently excited to work with environmental organizations like “e”-Inc. and Eversource, which offer classes on climate and energy along with action based projects to save energy in schools.
CEA also collaborated with Education First to host the Glocal Challenge, a contest-based program to provide students with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) experience by challenging them to solve a local challenge. This year’s prompt was to reduce energy use in the Cambridge municipal and residential buildings, and the Challenge culminated in an exciting final student competition event on Thursday, December 10. Congratulations to the five teams that won seed money and internships with the City to implement their ideas and all of the participants who have clearly been energetic, engaged, and ready to Win It!
Students and families can help save energy and win the Georgetown Prize at home as well by signing up for a no-cost home energy assessment. The assessment includes instant savings measures such as free LED lightbulbs and smart power strips, as well as recommendations to take further action to save energy such as by weatherizing and upgrading insulation. We’re trying to reach 5,000 assessments by the end of the winter, so sign up today! You can also purchase energy efficient appliances directly through the MassSave website. Also, keep an eye out for your Block Captain this spring to find out how to do more! Do your part today—we’re In It to Win It together!