Southington High School Earns State Energy Saver Award

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Tuesday presented “Summer Saver” Awards to 11 organizations — including the Southington High School, recognizing their leadership and commitment to reducing energy usage and air pollution during the critical “peak demand” summer months of 2013.

The combined efforts of these awardees resulted in energy savings of over 381,354 kilowatt hours (or 381 megawatt hours) of electricity, lowering peak electricity demand by 618 kilowatts and CO2 emissions by 175 tons.  To achieve their savings, the awardees utilized various incentives offered by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund Small Business and Commercial and Industrial programs available through the Connecticut Light & Power Company and The United Illuminating Company.

“The combined efforts of the 11 Summer Savers Awardees resulted in energy savings in kilowatt hours, peak electricity demand and in carbon emissions,” DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee said at the awards ceremony held at the state Capitol. “Efficiency efforts are of special significance in summer months when reducing peak demand can help reduce the cost of power and when reducing emissions from power plants helps prevent pollution that contributes to smog and climate change.”

The Peak Performer Award was given to Southington High School for the highest achievement during summer 2013 in reducing electricity demand without the use of back-up diesel generation as part of ISO-New England’s Load Response program. The school had a reduction of more than 421 kilowatts or 36 percent of power use.

Accepting the award for Southington High School (and pictured below) were Jack Betkoski, Vice Chairman, CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; Jeff Eckert, Maintenance Technician, Southington High School; Frederic Cox, Director of Plant Operations, Southington High School; Henry Materek, Maintenance Technician, Southington High School; State Rep. Rob Sampson; State Sen. Joe Markley.

The Summer Energy Savers Awards program was instituted to encourage and reward Connecticut businesses and institutions who reduced their electricity consumption during the summer months by 5 percent to 20 percent over the previous two summers. The Summer Saver Awards acknowledge the efforts of the awardees that reduced their use on peak energy days in summer when it is so critical to the state’s energy infrastructure.

Owners/operators of facilities that increase their energy efficiency or initiate conservation measures this summer are invited to apply for the Connecticut Summer Saver Awards. 

To obtain an application and to learn more about the program, log on to http://www.summersaver.state.ct.us or contact Ginger Teubner at (860) 827-2630.