Stratford, Connecticut is located on Long Island Sound within a one hour drive from New York City. The town covers an area of 19 miles and has a population of nearly 50,000. Stratford’s Board of Education (BOE) is charged with providing the best instructional conditions possible in the town’s 14 schools. Over the last five years, the BOE has become a recognized leader in the community and the state for identifying energy efficiency opportunities within the school district.
In partnership with The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) and The United Illuminating Company (UI) the Stratford BOE has aggressively pursued an energy efficiency plan aimed at reducing kilowatt hour usage as well as peak demand consumption.
As part of the BOE’s overall energy management plan, including the procurement of competitive electricity and fossil fuels, the following energy saving projects have been implemented:
- Major lighting upgrades including high performance lighting systems and controls in the classrooms and office areas of all 14 schools in the district;
- Installation of digital outdoor lighting controls that reduce the use of outdoor lighting;
- Comprehensive building management systems at three of the largest energy using schools to manage and reduce energy consumption during unoccupied times including nights, weekends, holidays and unplanned snow days; and
- Installation of a 52 kW solar photovoltaic system at the Flood Middle School as part of the BOE’s commitment to purchasing and/or generating green energy.
As a result of the Stratford BOE’s commitment to energy efficiency, the district has saved over $2.5 million in the last six years. These savings are significant especially in times of budget uncertainty and budget cutting. Through efficiency and competitive energy procurement, the Stratford BOE has been able to maintain stable energy budgets for the past two years, despite increases in fuel prices.