This article was originally published (modified) in the PAISBOA Friday Flyer Volume VIII, No. 17, November 15, 2019
Can selecting the right appliances help a school or business reach both sustainability and cost savings goals? More and more, we are finding synergies between environmentally-conscious practices and economic interests. It is time that we throw away (recycle?) myths about these priorities being at odds with each other; one place to look for proof is Energy Star appliances.
The Energy Star program was established by the US Environmental Protection Agency, which tests each product before granting appliances the label.
The products need to meet performance standards by exhibiting significant energy efficiency. According to EPA’s site on the subject, Energy Star appliances reduced American electricity use by 370 billion kWh in 2017, amounting to $30 billion in energy cost savings. There are also programs in place to support sustainable purchasing; in Massachusetts, the Mass Save program provides rebates and incentives for replacing inefficient kitchen and heating appliances with Energy Star products.
For schools, this can mean significant cost reductions. Miriam Fisher Schaefer, the chief financial officer at Friends Central School, attests to the difference that Energy Star appliances have made at her school: “When we renovated our Dining Center the school invested in Energy Star appliances because they use less energy and perform well overall, saving us money and environmental impact. Buying Energy Star products also helped the Dining Center become a three star Certified Green Restaurant ®. It was a win-win for our school.”
If your school is interested in making an on-going commitment to sustainability, adopting a comprehensive facilities purchasing policy can be a great place to start. A policy should outline the school’s sustainability values and goals, including categories like carbon footprint reduction and product life cycle analysis, to serve as a reference for any future investments in appliances, vehicle fleets, maintenance equipment and more.
Energy reductions can seem daunting if you don’t have experience in what to look for, but it is a great way to combine cost savings and sustainability at your school. The Energy Star label helps to facilitate this process, helping guide you to products already assessed for their efficiency. For more information on Energy Star and product recommendations, visit the Energy Star website.
By Casey Maslan, a Senior in the Environmental Studies Department at Boston College, and intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.
