A little competition goes a long way in U-46
When Elgin Area District U-46 challenged its schools to reduce the amount of electricity they use, it sparked a competitive streak in some schools that resulted in huge savings for the district.
While many of the schools reduced their energy consumption, a few schools stood out from the rest and were awarded cash prizes during Monday's board of education meeting.
At the elementary level, Wayne led all the schools with Garfield, Ontarioville, Fox Meadow and Oakhill completing the top five. At the secondary level, Kenyon Woods Middle School and Larkin High School were recognized for having the greatest reductions.
Here is a breakdown of the biggest energy-savers from the 2010-2011 school year:
Fox Meadow Elementary School — $4,092
Wayne Elementary School — $9,393
Garfield Elementary School — $6,266
Ontarioville Elementary School — $7,097
Oakhill Elementary School — $3,905
Kenyon Woods Middle School — $19,283
Larkin High School — $30,900
Districtwide, the total cost avoidance was $158,706. The district saved 1,763,400 kwh during the school year.
At Monday's meeting, school administrators and board members thanked employees, particularly the janitorial staff, for being diligent about tasks like turning off lights at the end of the day and encouraging students to save energy.
Each elementary school received $1,000, while the top middle school and high school received $3,000 and $5,000, respectively.
See the stars: The U-46 Planetarium is once again open to the public. Visitors can experience the planetarium's new technology, a full-dome projector that allows viewers an almost 360 degrees. A 25-minute show investigates the relationship between the Earth and its neighbors in space. Recognizing the changing weather and the fall season, a presentation on the autumn/winter sky under the stars will also be included. Two viewings will be held Wednesday, Nov. 2: at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. The Planetarium is at 312 Watch St., Elgin. Tickets are $3 and the planetarium does not accept credit cards. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Reservations are not required.