Brian Osborne, Bledsoe County Schools transportation director and the staff member who oversees the district’s energy system, says he can power up and monitor energy use at any of the system’s six schools. The new energy system has trimmed the school district carbon footprint by 27 percent, officials say.BY THE NUMBERS
6: Number of schools1,886: Number of students301,732: Total square footage of county schools$500,000: Zero-interest, 7-year loan$412,270: Conventional loan, 12-year term$40,004: Energy Efficient Schools Initiative grant$952,274: Total upgrade project cost$51,890: Current year savings through April 2011Source: Bledsoe County Schools, Schneider Electric – Energy Solutions
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. – A $1 million energy upgrade in Bledsoe County’s six schools trimmed the system’s carbon footprint by 27 percent, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 663 tons and methane emissions by 986 tons, officials said.
In tight economic times, a little relief on the light bill goes a long way, and reduction in emissions is always a step in the right direction, Bledsoe County Director of Schools Phil Kiper said.
“We’ve had $51,800 in savings through April 2011,” Kiper said of the upgrades’ impact so far.
“Utility bills in Tennessee have increased by 33 percent in the last five years,” he said. “We knew that we had to commit to energy efficiency and conservation to provide our students with better quality and comfort.”