CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The four most energy-efficient buildings in the Cleveland School System are those with geothermal heating and cooling.
Mayfield and Arnold elementary schools, Cleveland Middle School and Cleveland High School rank at the top when energy costs are compared per square foot, said Paul Ramsey, the school system’s energy coordinator.
The “top four least-expensive schools to provide utilities for are our geothermal schools,” Ramsey said. “I applaud the board for having the vision to provide geothermal when we made renovations or added new schools.”
The comparison was made from actual utility costs, Ramsey said, and not cost avoidance.
Converting to geothermal when possible is not the only energy conservation program launched by the school system the past two years. Like the Bradley County School System, Cleveland schools have replaced old-fashioned lighting with energy-efficient lights.