CenterPoint Energy awarded Pasadena ISD $19,488 for energy efficient building upgrades implemented in 2006 through the Schools Conserving Resources (SCORE) Program. The award was presented district’s regular January meeting of the Board of Trustees.

The SCORE Program is a new pilot program offered through CenterPoint Energy to a limited number of school districts to help improve energy efficiency and reduce school’s energy operating costs. CLEAResult Consulting is implementing the program for CenterPoint Energy.

Incentives are paid by CenterPoint Energy at $150 per peak kilowatt of energy saved. The Public Utility Commission of Texas provides the mechanism for calculating energy savings achieved. The district is awarded an incentive check when projects are finished and the new equipment is inspected.

“The incentives were an encouraging factor but the actual motivation for our effort is the money we will be saving on future utility bills,” said Tom Swan, Pasadena ISD’s executive director of special projects.

Pasadena ISD joined the SCORE Program in June 2006. Since then, the district has made a committed effort to identify and implement energy saving measures. With assistance provided through the SCORE Program Pasadena ISD identified the district’s facilities with the most energy-saving potential. They also developed a master plan so that the best approach toward reducing the district’s energy bills could be taken.

“The SCORE Program has helped our district save money and we have been able to advance our students’ learning environments. We were surprised to find so many opportunities to save energy and ultimately money. We are beginning to fully recognize the importance and benefit of reducing our energy use,” Pasadena ISD Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Construction Julian Garcia said

The SCORE Program helps the district by facilitating a focused look at what it can do to use energy most efficiently. In order to achieve the incentive earning goals, the program involved administrators at all levels in the decision making process. The SCORE Program helps the district’s Financial Department understand that sometimes spending more in the design and construction phase of a project can lead to a bigger payback in the utility savings for years to come.

"This aspect of the program is important because it gives us the opportunity to calculate the lifelong cost of the equipment and helps us plan for rising energy costs,” said Tom Douglas, the district’s director of maintenance.

“CenterPoint is working to encourage and help our communities conserve energy. We are excited to make Pasadena ISD a part of our efforts” said Karen Gregory, SCORE Program Manager for CenterPoint Energy.