Glynn County School System

An energy management program instituted by the Glynn County School System four years ago has reduced total energy costs by more than 30 percent and produced net cost savings of more than $1.5 million for the school system. The figures were presented by Glynn County Schools Energy Manager Dave Raczynski to the Glynn County Board of Education at a recent board meeting.

“These are real cost savings for our schools,” Raczynski explained, “and the money saved by reducing our energy consumption can be used for classroom resources and other needs that directly benefit our students. Overall, we have realized a total cost avoidance of nearly $2.5 million during the program’s four-year history.”

Truman Atkins of Energy Education, Inc. echoed Raczynski’s comments when addressing the board of education about his company’s involvement in the energy management program in Glynn County. In November 2007, the Glynn County Board of Education signed a four-year contract with Energy Education to implement the program throughout the school system. Since that time, Raczynski has worked closely with Energy Education to monitor energy and resource consumption at all 27 sites in the system and to educate school system staff about ways to reduce energy costs.

“Achieving success with this program requires much more than just turning off lights and adjusting thermostats,” Atkins said. “To fully realize the program’s potential, you have to change the culture in your organization and make energy conservation a priority at all levels. Mr. Raczynski's efforts and passion for conservation are key factors in the tremendous savings that have been realized during the program’s implementation in Glynn County.”

Concluding his presentation, Atkins presented the school system with Energy Education's "Chairman's Sustainability Award" for outstanding environmental and financial resource stewardship in its implementation of the energy management program.

With the term of the four-year contract with Energy Education completed, the Glynn County School System will no longer have to pay administrative fees to the company. However, Energy Education will still provide support for the program as long as it is implemented in Glynn County.

“During the first four years, the hard costs of the program remained very stable, while the energy savings grew substantially each year,” Raczynski said. “This can be attributed to several things, including improved processes and management of the program and a change in culture and habits among our employees. Combining the increased energy savings each year with the fact that we won’t be paying administrative fees anymore will translate to even more funds and resources that we can direct to educational programs. In these tough economic times, the energy management program makes sense now more than ever because it cuts expenses which in turn benefits students.”

PHOTO:  From left, Glynn County Schools Superintendent Howard Mann, Truman Atkins of Energy Education, Inc., Board of Education Chairman Jerry Mancil, Energy Manager Dave Raczynski and Operations Director Al Boudreau display a banner and award presented by Energy Education recognizing the school system's successful energy management program.

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