LA PLATA, Md. (February 17, 2012)—Charles County Public Schools recently received more than $26,000 in incentives for participating in the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative’s (SMECO) Business Solutions program. The program provides incentives to businesses that make efficiency improvements to their facilities.
Representatives from SMECO and ICF International, an energy consulting company selected by SMECO to help implement its energy efficiency programs, presented two checks to the school system – one for $20,365 and another for $5,135 – during the Feb. 14 Board of Education meeting. The incentives were provided for the replacement of old lighting with energy-efficient fixtures and equipment at the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center and Maurice J. McDonough High School.
The F.B Gwynn Center underwent renovations last school year in order to provide additional program space for students, and a Career Technology Education (CTE) classroom as Maurice J. McDonough High School was also renovated. Both renovations included the replacement of T12 fluorescent lighting fixtures with energy-efficient equipment. Incentives are funded through the Maryland Public Service Commission’s approved energy efficiency charges that are applied to customer electric bills as part of the EmPower Maryland initiative.
Charles County Public Schools also received a $145,000 incentive through participations in the 2011 Demand Response Program, which is coordinated through SMECO’s contract with Comverge. Comverge is an independent company that provides clean energy solutions through demand response and energy efficiency. The program focuses on reducing electricity use during peak demand hours, which results in energy savings. Last school year, the electric usage of 12 schools and buildings was reduced during peak demand hours. From now on, during the months of June through September, all schools, centers and buildings will participate in this program.
Under EmPower Maryland, Maryland’s five major utility companies developed and implemented energy efficiency and demand response programs that include electric bill rebates for energy efficiency investments, audits and services. The goal of EmPower Maryland is to reduce power consumption 15 percent by 2015.
All non-residential customers who receive SMECO service are eligible to participate in the Business Solutions program, but interested customers must apply for program participation. Additional information is located on the Business Solutions program page of the SMECO Web site, www.smeco.coop.
Source: Charles County Public Schools