Congrats Redtail!

Redtail Ridge Elementary in Savage was recently awarded Energy Star certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Congratulations to head building operator Randy (pictured at right) and all the staff and students at Redtail Ridge. Being recognized by the EPA for superior energy performance is a great achievement for the school. Buildings that earn the EPA's Energy Star use 35% less energy and generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings across the nation.

Redtail Ridge also received an annual award from SEE for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Reduction. To receive this recognition, the school had to meet or exceed their goal of reducing annual energy use by 10% and Redtail showed an 18% reduction for 2011. Redtail also received this award for 2010. Please continue to be mindful of your energy use throughout the day at school. Not only are you helping the environment by reducing pollution from energy production, you are helping to keep dollars otherwise spent on energy consumption in our classrooms where it is needed the most.

Today's Energy Thought

The EPA estimates that 80% of these and 70% of these
used in offices are left on overnight.


A)  Fax machines and radios

B) Task lights and computer monitors

C) Printers and copy machines

D) Coffee pots and lava lamps


Scroll down to check your answer...

All of these items are left on at various times but 80% of printers and 70% of copiers are left on in offices resulting in lost energy. If you are the last one in your area, please be sure these items are shut off for the night. Also, try to get in the habit of using the energy saver button found on most copy machines. Every little effort, no matter how small, does make a difference, thanks for doing your part! Oh, and C is the correct answer.

Today's Energy Thought

Saturday's warm breeze made it a perfect day to hang sheets, bedding and clothes outside on the line to dry. A simple investment of clothesline rope and wooden clothespins is a great way to save energy by not running your electric or gas clothes dryer. If you don't have two trees for hanging up a clothesline, look for other areas like a fence or corner of the house for an anchor point. Your local hardware store has several options for retractable clotheslines. Be creative and see how best you can hang laundry out to dry during these glorious spring days.

If you don't like the "crunchiness" of some items after being air dried, for example denim jeans, give these a head start outside on the line and then throw them in the dryer to finish drying and soften up a bit. Additionally, spending less time in an automatic dryer can add to the longevity of a garment as air drying is not as hard on clothes as power dryers.

Lastly, if you run your dryer at the same time you are cooling your home with air conditioning, try to run loads in the morning or at night and not during the peak cooling hours of mid-day through the late afternoon into early evening. That can go for washing machines and dish washers as well.

So on the next warm and sunny day, be sure to take advantage of nature's clothes dryer.

Save Over the Summer

Pretty soon hallways will be empty and quiet as students and staff head off for a much deserved summer vacation. There are many opportunities to save energy over the three month period between Memorial and Labor Days. As you prepare to leave your classroom, office, or area for the extended break, please make sure to do the following to keep our buildings operating efficiently throughout the summer months:

• Close blinds and drapes.
• Keep vents clear of books and boxes.
• Turn off monitors, printers, speakers, smartboards, etc.
• Turn off and unplug all miscellaneous electronics.
• Take home any plants and animals.
• Consolidate refrigerators in staff lounges; turn off, clean and prop open all but one in each building.
• Empty, turn off, clean and prop open refrigerators in FACS rooms and science labs.
• Look for and be aware of any opportunities to save energy during the unoccupied summer months.

 Thanks for doing your part, together we can and do make a difference!

Congrats!

Three more buildings in the district have earned Energy Star certification from the EPA. Congratulations to Redtail Ridge Elementary and Glendale Elementary in Savage and Jeffers Pond Elementary in Prior Lake! These schools join Prior Lake High School in Savage and Five Hawks Elementary in Prior Lake as Energy Star rated buildings.

Thanks to the staff and students in these schools for working hard at being eco-conscious and energy efficient. Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming award presentations at each site.

Today's Energy Thought

By placing a dry bath towel in the dryer with a load of wet laundry, you can cut down on drying time and save energy. When you add dry and absorbent material to the wet fabric, some of the moisture is wicked away by the dry towel. Add two towels to a large load if there is enough room but don't overload the dryer, this inhibits the tumbling action that allows air to circulate through the laundry drying it.

Also, clean the lint trap after every load allowing for maximum circulation and run loads back to back so the dryer doesn't cool down between loads.

Live Green!

This weekend you can attend the largest zero waste event in the state. Saturday and Sunday at the State Fair grounds in St. Paul is the 11th annual Living Green Expo. Click here to go to a link with all the details for the two day event. There is so much way cool stuff for you to check out when it comes to living green and more.

the Energy Hog

It's been awhile since we've had the Energy Hog in the district. Why not click here to go the interactive, fun, and informative website for the Energy Hog?

Once at the site, you will have the two links on the left to chose from, one for parents and teachers and one for kids only.

Check it out!