In its ongoing effort to reduce the consumption of electricity and natural gas and save money that can instead go for classroom use, Leon County Schools saved more than $1.3 million in fiscal year 2011-2012.

The savings – more than $4.4 million since 2006-2007, according to the school district’s energy office – reflect Superintendent Jackie Pons’ commitment to responsible financial and environmental stewardship.

“This is no accident. It’s the result of a planned and sustained effort to do a better job of energy conservation – to be not only a better financial and environmental steward, but also a role model for our students,” Superintendent Pons said.

“When we ask them to be better conservationists than we have been, we have to be able to demonstrate that we are continuing to do better ourselves.”

The past year’s reduction in the use of electricity and natural gas reflects a significant decrease in the use of kilowatt hours per square foot of space, the method the school district uses to calculate usage and savings. The previous year’s usage averaged 15.87 kilowatt hours per square foot versus 13.16 in 2011-2012, energy director Manny Joanos said.

Overall, the cut in consumption saved 13 million kilowatt hours district-wide, Joanos said, and a represents a savings to taxpayers of $1,367,125.

The school district’s success in reducing its electric bills is among several conservation-related initiatives for which Superintendent Pons was named one of three finalists statewide in the leadership category of Sustainable Florida’s annual Best Practice Awards. Sustainable Florida will announce the winner in the leadership category at an awards dinner Sept. 13 in West Palm Beach.

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