News
GRCC Program Earns Environmental Stewardship Award
Tuesday September 22 2009
Grand Rapids, MI
For saving enough energy in 15 months to effectively plant more than 108,486 trees, Grand Rapids Community College was presented with The Award for Energy Stewardship from Energy Education during the September 21st board meeting. The Award for Energy Stewardship recognizes the organization’s efforts to implement an innovative people-oriented energy conservation and management program.
The program is administered through a strategic alliance with Energy Education, a national company whose energy conservation programs have saved more than $1.5 billion for educational and ministerial organizations since 1986.
“Grand Rapids Community College, President Ender, the board members and administration are demonstrating wise fiscal and environmental stewardship by implementing this unique people-oriented energy conservation program,” said Dr. William S. Spears, CEO and Founder of Energy Education. “Using human resources to reduce energy use saves natural and financial resources for the organization and the community.”
GRCC has incorporated energy education and energy-saving practices across the board and has the participation of virtually every staff person - teachers, administrators, food service, maintenance and custodial people.
Grand Rapids Community College, established in 1914, offers both liberal arts and workforce development degrees, classes and workshops. Student enrollment on the urban campus for both credit and non-credit courses is approximately 28,000 this year.
Energy Education’s innovative Transformational Energy Management Process™ trains client personnel to implement behavioral and organizational change that substantially reduces energy consumption without the purchase of new equipment. The program is funded solely and rapidly by the savings it generates, allowing clients to redirect saved energy dollars to other priorities. Dallas, Texas-based Energy Education was named 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 23 years, the company has worked with more than 1,000 educational and ministerial organizations, helping clients save over $1.7 billion in utility costs.