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Testimonials
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"Our district looked at several energy management options including guaranteed savings contracts and decided that SEE program's behavior-based approach was the most cost-effective and flexible. SEE allows us to lead our own energy saving efforts, instead of forcing us to follow a rigid plan. In four years, we save $921,041 in 6 facilities and nearly doubled our 10% goal. Our students, staff and community agree - SEE is the right choice for us!"
Bruce Novak
Superintendent
Cambridge/Isanti School District, Minnesota
"The SEE Program is a comprehensive, well-organized and focused energy savings program with a wide variety of support services to help our district achieve its energy management goals. Through the SEE Program, the Cambridge-Isanti School District has made positive strides in many energy-related areas and our communities have given us good feedback about our focus on energy cost avoidance, especially given the tight budget climate."
Mark Eisenbacher
Buildings and Grounds Director
Cambridge-Isanti School District, Minnesota
"Being a rural school district struggling to pinch the pennies, reducing our electric demand charges by 24% has really helped. Our small district has gone over 1/2 million dollars in avoided spending in three years all because of our energy efficiency program."
Nancy Johnson
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
Cambridge-Isanti School District, Minnesota
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"I'm ecstatic and very impressed with the SEE program. I would highly recommend any other school district to look into it and take on the challenge."
Henry Rodrique
Manager of Buildings and Grounds
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, New Jersey
"The utility tracking element has been phenomenal and SEE has been a great unifying program for our district."
Connie Coriell
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, New Jersey |
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"We were able to return our utility expense savings back to our classrooms for teachers, supplies, and facility upgrades to enhance our students learning environment. The energy we have saved so far is enough to provide electricity to 2,527 households – our students are quite amazed!"
"It's been fun. It's just been an adventure! We are glad we had this opportunity to be here for the award. South Washington County Schools have reach just short of $1.8 million."
July 2008 upon receiving the SEE Energy Milestone Award at the Annual SEE Training Conference
Jim Bain
Energy Manager
South Washington County School District, Minnesota |
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The SEE program and Mahtomedi Schools have been successful in creating an ongoing culture of energy efficiency in both the classroom and administration offices. We've proven this during the past five years as measured in several ways: a 17% reduction of overall energy use, lowered district energy use from 72 kbtu/sqft to 66 kbtu/sqft; received several Energy Star Leader awards; avoided utility costs of over $480,000 and, most importantly, by the adoption of a prevalent attitude of conservationism."
Anne Anderson
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
Mahtomedi School District, Minnesota |
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"We applaud the SEE program for assisting schools to proactively manage their energy use. Because buildings contribute about 20% of our national greenhouse gas emissions, effective energy management helps the bottom line and protects our environment."
Bill Wehrum
Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation
"We congratulate Minnesota schools for their exceptional achievement in saving energy. What the Schools for Energy Efficiency program schools have done shows a strong connection between superior energy management and environmental stewardship. The districts are also doing a great job of teaching young people that environmental benefits can go hand-in-hand with economic benefits."
Audrie Washington
ENERGY STAR Regional 5 Program Manager
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"We thought we were doing a great job at conserving, so we were kind of skeptical that there may be more opportunity for savings. What's turning off a light going to do? But now, I haven't found anyone that thinks $410,000 isn't a lot of money."
Mark Glende
Head Custodian
Sioux Trail Elementary School
Burnsville/Eagan/Savage School District, Minnesota |
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It's great not only for the kids, but for the community as well.
It's the right thing to do."
Sue Doering
Early Childhood Program Improvement Facilitator
St. Cloud School Area District, Minnesota
"We were one of the pilot school districts for the SEE program and have continued to see progress since the beginning while having fun in the process. With the easy-to-follow energy efficient practices and poster campaign, we reduced our energy 7% in the first year and 14% so far in the second year. Our district has saved an amazing $280,000 thus far – it’s sad that we were wasting all this energy and money before the program. Joining the SEE program also saved us time, by providing all the information and training up front to get an energy program started."
Kevin Januszewski
Business Manager
St. Cloud Area School District, Minnesota
"Through the SEE program, our students and staff are beginning to understand that electricity and fuel are not FREE. When lights are turned off and computers are shut down when they are not used...more dollars are available to support educational programming. It's a win-win for our students and the environment!."
Bruce Watkins
Superintendent
St. Cloud Area School District, Minnesota
"We are very proud to be an ENERGY STAR® school. Our students, staff and building users have made some changes in our ‘energy behavior’ and the pay-off has been great! We appreciate the leadership at our building and district levels, and of our SEE friends! It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we work together for a common goal."
Paula Foley
Principal
Oak Hill Community School
St. Cloud Area School District, Minnesota |
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"As a public institution, we value the low cost and joint involvement by all levels of staff not just the operations crew. Even if one side of the team is weak - the system still works because it's so integrated. At Buffalo we've been fortunate to have an excellent Superintend ant, a great school board that is on board with us and principals that are willing to lead other staff so they understand what we are actually trying to achieve. We can show the results and have excellent people to work with at SEE. In all, we have a cohesive team - the dollars are saved when we work together not to mention it's pretty fun and goes beyond the buildings into student's homes... that's pretty powerful!"
Eric Hamilton
Director of Buildings & Grounds
Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, Minnesota |
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Excerpt from Award presentation speech, March 2008:
"One example (of MN gaining national attention for green efforts) is a division of Hallberg Engineering, Schools for Energy Efficiency, who has worked with districts to change behaviors in the way that schools use energy. There are only 32 schools in the country, in the whole United States of America that have achieved the full certification for ENERGY STAR status and 1/3 of those are in Minnesota - think about how small of a state we are compared to the rest of the country. 1/3 are here in our own state, so it's a terrific thing to celebrate!"
Tim Pawlenty
Minnesota Governor |
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I'm having so much fun right now with our school energy program - mainly because they are really into the behavioral changes. We've saved $168.000 over a 2 year period, but hate best part of it is that the administration is finally buying into the concept of conservation so they are now going that one step further. At this point it's not just low and no cost, but also looking into high efficiency air conditioners, good lighting, better ventilation systems and recommissioning."
Carmel Taylor
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
Austin School District |
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"ISD 197 has proven that a little effort and ongoing teamwork can make an incredible impact! Since joining the SEE Program, our district has avoided over $113,000 in energy-related costs and lowered energy usage by 15%! This proactive program gives staff and students the opportunity to make a positive contribution toward their community and help determine how education dollars are spent. "
Anne Anderson
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
West St. Paul School District, Minnesota
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"With a district energy policy in place our building operators and staff are working together as a team. Our School Board Chair even addressed that the concept of energy efficiency in schools is an absolutely teachable moment for our students. "
Dan Kaler
Superintendent
North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale School District, Minnesota |
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"Hallberg provides district Energy Efficiency Coordinators with unlimited tools of the trade. During a recent SEE Peer Exchange, we were able to connect with U.S. Dept. of Energy, Rebuild America, Energy Smart Schools, MN Dept. of Commerce, and the EPA. The resources that are available are unlimited. The best part of the SEE Program is networking with other school districts. We have mentors, galore! We never have to ‘reinvent the wheel’. By utilizing other’s success and sharing great ideas we have seen outstanding benefits beyond what was ever imagined."
Laurie Hawkins
Energy Efficiency Coordinator
North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale School District, Minnesota |
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