FWPS Receives Solar Power and Resource Conservation Manager Grants totaling $45,000

Puget Sound Energy presented Federal Way Public Schools with a $25,000 solar power grant and a $20,000 Resource Conservation Manager (RCM) grant on June 10, 2008, during the school board’s monthly meeting at the Federal Way City Hall.

The RCM grant, offered through PSE’s Resource Conservation Program, is awarded to large organizations that have hired a Resource Conservation Manager (someone who is responsible for increasing energy efficiency by focusing on improvements to operations and maintenance practices and instituting best practices for resource usage) and are successful in achieving an overall 5 percent energy reduction.

The Federal Way School District achieved an overall energy reduction of 6 percent in its 2006-2007 school year, resulting in a savings from electric and natural gas reductions of more than $113,600 in energy bills. The district has been participating in the conservation program for the past four years (since April 2004), resulting in overall savings of more than $500,000.

“PSE, through its energy efficiency efforts, offers great incentives for local businesses to save energy and save money in the process,” said Tom Murphy, Federal Way School District superintendent. “The conservation success we’ve experienced at the Federal Way School District is a clear signal to all businesses that little changes can make a big difference.”

The solar power grant, offered through PSE’s Solar Schools Program, will allow Thomas Jefferson High School to install a 1.1 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic system (a technology that converts light directly into electricity) along with a Web-based monitoring system with an interactive touch-screen kiosk to display real-time data about the amount of electricity generated by the school’s solar array, as well as software enabling students to assess system performance over time.

 “We’re thrilled to offer Federal Way students the opportunity to learn more about renewable energy and the environment through our Solar Schools Program,” said Kimberly Harris, executive vice president and chief resource officer for PSE. “We look forward to working with Thomas Jefferson High School students and faculty on their solar demonstration project.”

Federal Way Public Schools staff, administrators and board members accepted the grants from Gary Nomensen, PSE Local Government and Community Relations Manager. They included Tom Murphy, Superintendent, Federal Way Public Schools, Ed Novak, Federal Way Public Schools Resource Conservation Manager, and Shawn Timulak, Thomas Jefferson High School teacher and solar project champion, who led the team submitting the solar power grant application.

For more information about the solar schools project or Resource Conservation Programs, visit http://www.pse.com. Read more about Thomas Jefferson’s Solar Schools grant and the district’s efforts and honors in creating environmentally healthy schools.

June 11, 2008