Media Contact: Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891

The Elko County School District has earned a $19,176 incentive payment from Sierra Pacific Power Company for energy efficiency improvements at Elko High School, Spring Creek High School and Elko Junior High.

The school district is receiving the payment through the utility's Sure Bet for Schools program, which rewards schools for investing in energy efficiency.

Incentive payments totaling $226,435 are going to six school districts in northern Nevada, as well as Truckee Meadows Community College, Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village and Western Nevada Community College in Carson City.

Energy efficiency measures implemented by the schools are expected to save up to 3.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, or enough energy to serve about 430 households for a year, according to John Hargrove, project manager for energy efficiency and conservation at the utility. 

"Sure Bet for Schools offers a great opportunity for the schools to reduce their energy bills and a way to share information about projects and products,"Hargrove said. 

Following are the energy efficiency projects that were implemented by the Elko County School District:
* Spring Creek High School has installed carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors in the gymnasium and café. By constantly measuring the CO2 present in a room, the sensors make it possible to adjust heating and cooling equipment automatically based on actual occupancy of a room instead of operating it at a fixed rate. Additionally, improvements were made in operation of the school's heat pump and lighting controls.
* CO2 sensors were installed in the gymnasium and multipurpose room at Elko Junior High to regulate heating and cooling.
* Fluorescent fixtures and lamps at Elko High School were retrofitted with more energy efficient fixtures and lamps.

The energy efficiency improvements at Elko are expected to reduce the school district's electricity usage by an estimated 364,218 kilowatt hours annually.