Studebaker Elementary School and McCombs Middle School in Des Moines, Iowa, Among Top Ten Energy Saving Schools in the U.S.

(Lenexa, Kan., April 17, 2014) - E.P.A. Region seven announced today that Studebaker Elementary School and McCombs Middle School in the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) finished 7th and eighth, respectively, in the yearly Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. Teams from in excess of 3,000 buildings across the country spent the past year competing to obtain the greatest reduction in energy use.

Studebaker Elementary, built in 1965, saved 31.9 percent in energy use during the 2013 calendar year, translating to a savings of 77 metric tons in greenhouse gases and an estimated in excess of $14,000 in energy costs. McCombs Middle School was built in 1973 and saved 29.7 percent in energy use with 138 metric tons of greenhouse gases savings and an estimated $46,700 in energy cost savings.

Together, competitors in this year's National Building Competition saved in excess of $20 million and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by in excess of 130,000 metric tons - equal to the yearly electricity use of nearly 18,000 homes. Many organizations used the competition to involve people - such as staff and students - who might not ordinarily be engaged in such efforts.

The 4th yearly Energy Star National Building Competition measured energy performance for the entire 2013 calendar year. Competitors tracked their buildings' monthly energy consumption using EPA's online energy tracking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The energy use reductions for each top finisher were verified by an independently licensed professional engineer or registered architect at the end of the competition. More information on the Energy Star National Building Competition, including top overall finishers and top finishers by building category, an interactive map of competitors, and a wrap-up report: www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings.

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