Meridian Elementary School Stretches to New Heights and Earns the ENERGY STAR(R) for Superior Energy Efficiency

Meridian Elementary of Clay Community Schools is proud to feature a very tall giraffe on the school's front lawn. An attention getter, the mascot is fondly named "Stretch" and serves as an inspiration and daily reminder of the vision of the school community to reach to new heights. In keeping with their aspirations, Meridian Elementary was recently notified that the school has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Meridian Elementary is now distinguished as one of just 10 Indiana K-12 schools with the ENERGY STAR efficiency rating.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, Clay Community Schools partnered with Performance Services (PSI), an Indiana-based design build company that specializes in energy savings projects in K-12 Schools. Together, optimal learning environment criteria and rigorous indoor air quality and lighting standards were established. Tom Reberger, Director of Buildings and Grounds, explained that solutions for Meridian Elementary included a new HVAC system with digital controls, new energy efficient and improved lighting, and new windows and outside doors throughout the school. Indoor air quality is also routinely monitored with CO2 sensors throughout the building. "It is very gratifying to receive national recognition for the operation of Meridian Elementary School. We are very proud of the accomplishment. Along with the responsible usage by school staff, the improvements kept Meridian's utility bills from increasing with the introduction of air conditioning," said Tom.

Schools and commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use less energy than most buildings and release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Meridian Elementary has saved $19,700 in annual energy costs and is 34% more energy efficient. It has also prevented greenhouse gas emissions of 175 metric tons, equivalent to the electricity use of 23 homes for an entire year.*

"It has been our pleasure to have the opportunity to work with Meridian Elementary and Clay Community schools. It's rewarding to provide our services to create an optimal learning environment for every student, to lower energy costs, and to reduce the affect on the environment," said Tim Thoman, President of Performance Services, an ENERGY STAR partner. The company has provided energy solutions to Indiana schools for 10 years and is the leading provider of guaranteed energy savings projects in Indiana with over 70 successful design-build school projects.

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov

For more information about Meridian Elementary, visit www.clay.k12.in.us

*To calculate greenhouse gas emissions, please visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html