TIPP CITY, Ohio, April 11, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Austintown Local Schools expects to save more than $153,000 annually by transitioning to LED lighting in partnership with Energy Optimizers, USA, an energy management solutions firm.<\/p>\n
![\"Austintown](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/18-0411-austintown-local-696x522.jpg\" "\\"Austintown")
\nStarting in April Energy Optimizers, USA will retrofit the interior and exterior lighting systems at all five of the district\u2019s buildings with LED systems. Lighting in the Austintown Falcons\u2019 football stadium and baseball field will also undergo an overhaul to the more energy-efficient lighting solution. The lighting comes with a 25-year material warranty.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 2020 Strategic Plan calls for us ensure our students are achieving at or above grade-level expectations and to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to our community,\u201d said Superintendent Vincent Colaluca. \u201cThis project is going to help us accomplish both by delivering tremendous savings that we can direct to our classrooms.\u201d<\/p>\n
The savings will be gained through both improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. LED lighting uses an average of 60 percent less energy and lasts five times longer than the systems being replaced. The district will also make use of First Energy incentives, which is expected to net an additional $50,000 in energy rebates.<\/p>\n
The benefits to the district\u2019s students and staff extend well beyond cost savings. LED lighting offers a quality of light that is very close to natural sunlight, which will result in better-lit and more comfortable learning environments. Also, LEDs do not have the hum and flicker associated with fluorescent lighting, making it an ideal lighting system for special needs classrooms.<\/p>\n
The partnership also includes funding for a district-wide Energy Education & Awareness Program that will invite students, staff, and the community to develop, promote and implement numerous energy savings and sustainability programs throughout the district while being aligned with the state testing standards.<\/p>\n
The district \u201cGreen Team\u201d will include scholarships for participating students, an educational trip to The Ohio State University to build a district \u201cEnergy Bike,\u201d a 5KW solar array to supplement classroom lessons and numerous after-school activities to promote and educate the students, staff, and community about energy efficiency and sustainability.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustintown students and staff will benefit from a lighting program that doesn\u2019t just save the district money; they will also gain real-world insights into STEM-related concepts and career opportunities,\u201d said Greg Smith, president of Energy Optimizers, USA. \u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly why we do what we do \u2013 we want to help our school partners save money, save the environment and prepare their students to do great things in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
About Energy Optimizers, USA:<\/strong>
\nEnergy Optimizers, USA works with educational, governmental, commercial and industrial customers to implement energy savings opportunities to reduce operational costs, including lighting retrofits, renewable energy projects (wind and solar), HVAC retrofit projects, building automation retrofits and energy education programs. The company was named to the INC. Magazine Top 500 list of fastest growing companies in the U.S. (2014), was named the Fastest Growing Company in the region for two consecutive years by the Dayton Business Journal (2013, 2014), and was named a finalist in the Dayton Business Journal Best Places To Work competition in 2016.<\/p>\n