By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is going to work with a Texas energy conservation company to reduce water and energy use.
The district’s two colleges, Grossmont and Cuyamaca, already have a history of saving water and energy in ways that often provide academic opportunities as well as savings.
By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is going to work with a Texas energy conservation company to reduce water and energy use.
The district’s two colleges, Grossmont and Cuyamaca, already have a history of saving water and energy in ways that often provide academic opportunities as well as savings.
Now the college district is teaming up with award-winning Cenergistic of Dallas to find more ways to significantly reduce use and related costs.
The college district has been water-conscious for at least the last five years, but water conservation has been a strategic planning priority back to the 1990s, said Della Elliott, a district spokeswoman.
“Quantifying the dollar savings is difficult, however, because water use reductions are typically offset by rate increases,” Elliott said.
Jennifer Danks, district Chancellor/Governing Board Office supervisor, said the district doesn’t have a dollar amount for savings, “but the goal is to reduce water consumption by the (California) Governor’s mandated 25 percent and to reduce energy consumption as much as possible.”
One reason the district is excited about the Cenergistic partnership, Elliott said, is “because of their expertise in measuring energy and water usage more precisely and providing data and information to help us expand conservation efforts.”
The program is expected to be funded by guaranteed utility savings. An on-site energy specialist provided by Cenergistic will make detailed analyses and reports.
The effort is an opportunity to cut expenses while developing a broad program to save endangered resources, according to District Chancellor Cindy L. Miles.
A member of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the district’s conservation measures already include irrigation sensors; low-flush and touchless restroom fixtures; drought-tolerant plants; mulching groundcover; drip irrigation; upgrading swimming pool equipment and replacing fluorescent bulbs with LED lights.
Call (619) 644-7842 or visit www.gcccd.edu for more information.
Good Article