TVA & EPB award a $100,000 School Uplift Grant to Rossville Middle Principal Rob Stinson and Walker County Schools Superintendent Damon Raines along with other representatives from TVA, Rossville Middle and Walker County Schools. From left, Candyce Hitchcock (TVA), Taquiya Thompson (TVA), Paula Reed (RMS), David Scruggs (EPB), Superintendent Damon Raines (WCS), Principal Rob Stinson (RMS), Chris Jones (WCS), Justin Carruth (WCS), Kevin Wren (TVA), Ritchie Mathews (WCS)
Rossville Middle School has been awarded a $100,000 School Uplift grant from TVA and EPB, the school’s local power company. TVA School Uplift is a 12-month behavior-based energy management training program developed with the State of Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools initiative that helps public school districts make smart energy choices that improve the classroom learning environment and save money through decreased energy use.
“School Uplift is a free energy management program that leads to significant energy and cost savings to schools,” said John Watts, EPB Energy Pro. “Participating schools receive free consultation and coaching on how to operate buildings with a focus on energy efficiency, as well as information and tools to engage faculty and students in energy efficiency practices and conservation.”
Tight budgets and aging buildings leave many schools facing a difficult decision between funding learning programs and making needed facility upgrades. TVA’s $7.3 million School Uplift program is helping 160 public schools in seven states solve that problem. Schools that complete the year-long program receive a $10,000 grant to fund projects that improve the learning environment and can compete and win grants worth up to $400,000 for building energy upgrades.
“School Uplift is another great example of TVA and EPB’s work to enrich our community,” said Robert Stinson, principal of Rossville Middle. “We’re so excited to have earned this $100,000 Learning Environment grant, which we will invest in needed upgrades that will improve our facility and make Rossville Middle more efficient, healthy and comfortable. That means our teachers can focus more on teaching and our students can thrive.”
“The School Uplift program is helping our entire Walker County School System learn more about what we can do to lower our energy usage, lower our power bills and extend the life of our equipment district wide,” said Ritchie Mathews, energy manager with Walker County Schools. “We’re excited to work with Rossville Middle to plan how we’ll use the $100,000 to get the most energy savings for the school possible and how to best share this information with our students and staff so it can be an educational opportunity for us all to learn about energy efficiency.”
Sixty schools have completed the TVA School Uplift pilot program over the past two years. Participating schools report nearly 10 percent in annual energy savings with no capital investment and have used the program to engage students around issues of sustainability.
“Every dollar invested in our schools helps districts allocate resources to where it matters most – educating our children – and we’re excited to bring TVA School Uplift to the communities we serve,” said Cindy Herron, vice president of TVA EnergyRight. “Helping schools save money on their energy costs and improving learning environments is an important investment in the Valley’s future. I look forward to seeing how this program makes an impact for years to come.”
TVA is recruiting public K-12 schools in their seven state service area for the next School Uplift cohort. Visit www.energyright.com/business-industry/school-uplift to learn more.