Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has announced that 17 of its buildings have achieved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Certification, recognizing them as some of the most energy-efficient structures in the country. This marks an increase from 10 buildings certified in 2023. To receive or maintain this certification, buildings must rank in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency and meet ventilation standards.

William Murphy, IPS's chief operations officer, expressed satisfaction with this achievement: "We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR. It’s proof we’re operating healthier, more efficient buildings for our students and community. Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while also helping protect the local environment. We are proud that our program’s success is being recognized by ENERGY STAR."

Murphy highlighted during a presentation to the IPS Board of School Commissioners that since partnering with Cenergistic on a comprehensive energy conservation program in 2018, IPS has saved $22,860,552. The environmental impact is comparable to removing 21,144 cars from roads for a year or planting 2,045,749 trees.

The following schools are among those earning ENERGY STAR Certification: Carl Wilde School 79; Charity Dye School 27; Meredith Nicholson School 96; Christel House Schools at Manual High School; Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105; Eleanor Skillen School 34; Francis W. Parker School 56; George W. Carver School 87; Henry W. Longfellow Middle School; William Bell School (Butler Lab) 60; James A. Garfield School 31; Positive Supports Academy; Ralph W. Emerson School 58; Raymond F. Brandes School 65; Rousseau McClellan School 91; Theodore Potter School and Thomas D. Gregg Neighborhood Schools.

Utility costs represent the second-largest budget item for IPS, with prices for electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and water rising steadily. In response to these increasing costs, IPS partnered with Cenergistic to implement a behavior-driven energy conservation program across all its facilities.

This comprehensive initiative involves monitoring energy use throughout all campuses using advanced technology to pinpoint areas of excessive consumption and optimize systems accordingly in collaboration with district staff and Cenergistic engineers.

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