APOGEE Interactive Helps Georgia Schools Surpass 20 Percent Energy Savings

ATLANTA, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Marietta City Schools (MCS) launched a system-wide competition in September to see if its schools could impact energy consumption and costs. Results for the first semester are off the charts: Every one of the schools saved energy -- a hearty 12 percent on average -- and the winning school cut usage by 22 percent.

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The "Save-A-Watt" competition was designed by MCS, APOGEE Interactive and Marietta Power & Water in collaboration with teachers from across the 11 public schools in the Marietta City Schools system.  The winner -- Sawyer Road Elementary -- achieved an astounding 22 percent energy savings. Two more schools exceeded a 20 percent energy savings level for the first semester as well.

MCS and Marietta Power & Water tapped Apogee to help implement the "Save-A-Watt" contest.  With smart meters secured from ITRON, the leading meter manufacturer in the US, and Marietta Power & Water completing the meter installations, Apogee set up the data integration and posted composite results on a dedicated Save-A-Watt Web site.

Apogee is the leading provider of energy efficiency software to utilities and their customers.

"We knew putting information online to help students and teachers track their progress would be key to driving action. By doing so, they could see if they were leaving things on over the weekends or at night. People need feedback to help instill life-long habits and actions that save energy," said Joel Gilbert, APOGEE Interactive Co-founder and 30-year energy industry expert.

"Going in, we were expecting maybe a 5 to 10 percent savings, but to surpass 20-percent savings is phenomenal, especially with only behavior as the tool.  It speaks to how deeply the energy message resonates with children, and to what people can do when they have robust and timely data combined with a little healthy competition."

"This initiative is providing our students an opportunity to learn about energy conservation in a real-world setting," said Dr. Emily Lembeck, MCS Superintendent.  "In just four months, our schools reduced energy use by double-digits. These savings are also important when you consider the difficult budgeting challenges our system will be facing in the coming months." Bob Lewis, General Manager of Marietta Power & Water, added, "Teaching good energy efficiency practices benefits us all."

Not surprisingly, a large part of the savings came from turning things off like lights, TVs, electronic white boards and computers. But what is surprising is that the winning school already had the lowest power consumption per square foot to start. "If you want to find inspiration, just look at what these children are accomplishing in their schools," Gilbert said. "And I bet their energy-saving habits are spilling over into their homes after school, too."

About APOGEE Interactive, Inc.

Apogee's software is the "engine under the hood" for more than 450 utility energy efficiency programs throughout the U.S.  Apogee's Web-based solutions, featured on utility Web sites that reach millions of consumers daily, include self-service home energy audits, high bill analyzers, progress reporting online and in hard copy, onsite energy audits, energy and carbon calculators and Kids Korner, Apogee's flagship energy education Web content module. Serving the industry since 1994, Apogee clients include leading utilities across the country, including Southern Company, SMUD, BG&E, PSEG, PECO, NSTAR, TVA, NOVEC, Jackson EMC and more.

SOURCE APOGEE Interactive, Inc.