LARA - Belding Area Schools District Receives ENERGY STAR Building Label

Belding Area Schools District Receives ENERGY STAR Building Label

Contact: Maura Campbell 517-373-9280

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

April 16, 2004 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director David C. Hollister announced today that Belding Area Schools received the ENERGY STAR^â Building Label for Orchard Hills Elementary School.

The ENERGY STAR Building Label is awarded to buildings that exhibit high-energy efficiency without sacrificing occupant safety and comfort. Labeled buildings receive national recognition for their energy performance. Orchard Hills Elementary will receive a bronze plaque from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mount in the building entrance visible to occupants, visitors and community members. Wyandotte and Grandville Public Schools are the only other school districts in Michigan that have achieved this standard.

"Energy efficiency is a great way to teach students to care about their learning environment," said Granholm. "Energy efficient school buildings improve the learning environment for students, provide awareness and reduce the annual cost of utilities. Belding Area Schools is to be commended for their hard work and achievement."

Belding Area Schools has been working toward energy efficient buildings for more than 15 years. They continue to work with their staff, students, architects and local contractors to keep their buildings operating safely, comfortably and efficiently.

"Orchard Hills Elementary is a prime example of top achievement; the Belding area community members can be proud of their schools' achievement," said Hollister. "Our department assists public buildings in various ways to improve their facilities and reduce their energy consumption. Wise use of annual budget dollars helped Belding Area Schools become a leader; money realized from energy savings can be reallocated to other educational needs."

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary partnership between government, business and individuals that cooperate to protect the environment for future generations by implementing energy-efficient practices today. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly sponsor the ENERGY STAR program. Last year alone, ENERGY STAR helped businesses and consumers save more than $5 billion in energy costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those generated by 10 million cars.

The DLEG Energy Office promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy to Michigan's residents, businesses and public institutions. The Energy Office currently offers an incentive to encourage Michigan public schools and municipalities to benchmark their buildings and apply for the ENERGY STAR Label. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

For additional information, contact Brandy Minikey, Energy Office Engineer, at 517-241-8235 or Bob Schrauben, Belding Area Schools Director of Facilities, at 616-794-4500. Information on ENERGY STAR is also available at: www.energystar.gov. Information on incentives and other Energy Office programs is available at: www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.