Who needs Bush when you've got ingenuity?

One of the biggest consumers of energy anywhere are schools. In Beverly, Massachusetts, the Melrose Energy Commission is coming to terms with the problem.

In reviewing municipal energy costs, the Commission found that school buildings are the largest municipal consumers of energy in the city. School buildings also have the greatest number of occupants, and therefore the greatest ventilation requirements.

In a meeting between Energy Commission members and school administrators, the Commission discovered that school officials have already implemented many energy efficiency measures - good news for Melrose taxpayers. Over the last few years school officials have taken many positive steps to increase energy efficiency at the school buildings.

For example, James A. DiSanto, a science teacher at Melrose High School, was named as the energy educator/manager. In this role, he is responsible for implementing energy efficiency programs at the high school.

School administrators have also employed the services of a consulting firm to audit the programs being used and to make recommendations for further cuts.

Since the start of the program in April 2002, joint efforts between school officials and the consultants have resulted in a 17% reduction in total gas and electricity consumption - a total cost savings of over $431,000. The measures implemented so far have consisted of low or no cost practices such as programming temperature set points in compliance with adopted energy guidelines, aggressive indoor and outdoor lighting policies, and adjusting occupied and unoccupied times through the school's existing energy management systems to fine-tune building temperatures.

A side benefit to the program is that DiSanto has implemented an energy module as part of his science curriculum, exposing Melrose High School students to the benefits of energy efficiency as part of their education.