Wisconsin schools are challenged to become more energy efficient. A year ago, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton teamed up with the federal Environmental Protection Agency to provide school districts with tools and training to improve energy efficiency and save taxpayer dollars – and the program has proven to be very popular.
"Our state boasts more school district Energy Star partners than any other," notes Lawton. "We have 113 of the 504 Energy Star partners." In exchange for a commitment to improve energy efficiency by a minimum of 10 percent, school districts can get a variety of tools, training and advice on how to save money on energy costs.
"There is nothing to lose and everything to gain, both in hard earned tax dollars saved or redirected into the classroom, and in improved conditions for study and work," says Lawtown. "And, these school districts shrink their carbon footprint." With twenty cents of every dollar spent by schools going towards energy costs, Lawton is hoping to get every district in the state participating in the program.
