Austin Public Schools has been named the most energy efficient district of about 30 who participate in the nationwide Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program.

The district saved $300,008 from 2005 through February 2009 in cost avoidance, said Lori Volz, director of finance and operations.

“It is really phenomenal,” Volz said. “We are the most energy efficient by square foot.”

Austin Public Schools uses about 57.8 kbtu per square foot. The district has retrofitted lighting; purchased a new energy-efficient boiler; encouraged staff and students to shut off lights when not using rooms; monitored peak demand; and installed an “Ice Ball” air conditioning system in 1994 as part of the high school renovation project. Ice Balls are polyethylene spheres that are filled with water and chilled overnight to provide thermal energy storage.

The district has also received Top Performer (average ranking in facility portfolio is 75 or higher on a scale of 1 to 100) recognition the past two years from Energy Star.

The SEE program includes 30 districts and nearly 600 schools nationwide; the majority are in Minnesota. SEE is a systematized plan created specifically for K-12 schools providing a multi-year approach to energy reduction through operational strategies, behavioral awareness campaigns, and utility tracking reports.

Many have proven that a million dollars in energy savings without major infrastructure improvements is feasible. Districts reaching this milestone in 2009 are Cambridge-Isanti (Minn.) School District; Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose (Minn.) Schools; St. Cloud (Minn.) Area Schools, $1.5 million; and South Washington County (Minn.) Schools, $2.5 million after five years in the program.