K-12 Schools

ERC’s extensive experience with public sector institutions has made it a premier outreach service provider (OSP) on energy efficiency incentives offered by state utilities to public schools. The ERC’s primary objective is encouraging k-12 schools to apply for energy efficiency incentives geared towards saving money on monthly energy bills, shrinking their carbon footprint, and modernizing in the process. The ERC guides the state’s public schools through the application process that often follows an initial no-obligation facility assessment, which highlights achievable measures for reducing energy consumption. The ERC’s staff engineers are a technical resource for school facility managers and administrative staff alike. Understanding that most schools operate under budgetary constraints, the ERC’s technical support balances the need for upgrading facilities with the ambition of lowering operating costs as a result of projects that ultimately ‘pay for themselves'.

 

In addition to supporting the incentive application process, the ERC is comprised of a team of outreach professionals that actively engage public school administrators and facility managers through participation in association, industry and community events. This informs ERC’s work in identifying which districts can be served best by engaging energy efficiency measures. In the event you represent a district you believe can benefit from pursuing energy efficiency incentives, do not hesitate to reach out to Sam Rinaldi (samr@uic.edu) for no-obligation consultation on your school’s needs.

Some Quick Facts About Schools: Heading link

“In many school districts, energy costs are second only to salaries, exceeding the cost of supplies and books.”(https://www.nrel.gov)

“Energy accounts for about 2.2 percent of a school’s expenditures. Although this represents only a small percentage of total costs, it is one of the few expenses that can be decreased without affecting classroom instruction”(https://www.xcelenergy.gov)

“Nationally, K-12 schools spend more than $6 billion a year on energy and, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, at least a quarter of that could be saved through smarter energy management. Energy improvements could cut the nation’s school bill by $1.5 billion each year.”(https://www.nrel.gov)