Madera Unified School District has selected Highlands Energy to handle one of California’s first Proposition 39 contracts, which allots the school district $212,000 for the California Clean Energy Jobs Act. Highlands Energy will survey over 1.7 million square feet of the district’s facilities to determine what improvements and repairs can be made in order for Madera Unified to achieve maximum energy savings. The audit is expected to be completed by October and submitted to the state for the release of the Prop 39 funds.
“We are thrilled to have Highlands Energy as our partner for our Prop 39 process,” Madera Unified Director of Facilities Planning & Construction Management Rosalind Cox said. “Highlands Energy’s thoroughness and their team approach in addressing our energy savings needs made them a perfect fit for Madera Unified.”
Prop 39, approved in November of 2012, is a five-year corporate tax to support energy efficiency and alternative energy projects at state school districts. The proposition projects to give schools $550 million per year starting in the 2013-14 school year.
The first phase of the Madera Unified contract is to conduct a thorough energy audit of the district’s facilities to identify potential energy and financial savings opportunities. Eventually an Energy Expenditure Plan will show a financial breakdown of proposed energy savings before the funds can be released. Energy improvements will also be evaluated for federal and state grants and bonds.
“While Prop 39 offers a chance for schools to save a substantial amount of money on energy cost, our approach also looks at how improvements can significantly improve the learning environment for students,” Highlands Energy President Leonel Alvarado said. “We believe classrooms should be a safe and comfortable environment that fosters creativity, imagination and personal discovery. We help schools better control and reduce their energy bills so that financial resources can be reinvested back into the classrooms.”