Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Named Energy Star Leader | Environment

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as an Energy Star leader for superior energy efficiency in each of its ten schools for 2010.  

The district received EPA’s Top Performer and 20 Percent awards.

"The students and staff of MCPASD should be proud that their efforts and commitment to conserving energy is being recognized beyond our community" said Tom Wohlleber, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. "Our goals of increasing student and staff awareness/knowledge regarding energy usage in our schools, integrating energy management with energy education, and applying knowledge gained from classroom experience to the day-to-day operation of district facilities is being realized in a big way."

MCPASD improved its energy performance by 20 percent compared to a 2007-2008 baseline.In 2009 alone, the district cut down greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1,200 metric tons, which is the equivalent of planting more than 275 acres of trees.

Since beginning the energy program in 2004, the district has avoided utility costs of nearly $1.5 million.

The district's success is largely due to a commitment by the Board of Education and administration to make energy efficiency and sustainability a major priority.  Since 2004, the district has monitored energy usage in all of the districts sites and guided staff in finding unique ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs. Because of the district's success, stakeholders have bought into its mission to inspire, challenge and empower students and staff by incorporating energy efficiency and conservation in and outside of the classroom.

Other efforts to reduce the district’s energy usage included:

• Investigations by Middleton High School Environmental Studies classes into such basic concepts as reducing run times for lights and computers; and student presentations to the Board of Education on the practical benefits of renewable energy and sustainability in the future design of new facilities
• Testing and monitoring studies by students at Middleton Alternative Senior High School, resulting in a number of real-life operational changes and student presentations to the Board of Education on the practical benefits of renewable energy and sustainability in the future design of new facilities
• A partnership between MCPASD and Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls, Inc., to implement numerous facility improvements to improve efficiency, such as energy efficient lighting, occupancy sensors, upgraded digital building controls, water conservation, and HVAC equipment optimization and replacement and the installation of solar hot water at several MCPASD schools
• Formation of a district Sustainability Committee that developed a comprehensive School Energy Management Policy and Education Plan.

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is one of only nine school districts in the state of Wisconsin to be honored as an EPA Energy Star leader for 2010.