17 IPS Buildings Achieve ENERGY STAR Certification

IPS Buildings Achieve ENERGY STAR Certification—Enhancing Learning Environments

Today, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) announced that 17 buildings have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Certification, recognizing the structures as among the most energy-efficient in the nation.

This is an increase from 10 buildings in 2023. To earn or retain ENERGY STAR Certification, buildings must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency and meet ventilation standards. 

“We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR,” said William Murphy, the district’s chief operations officer. “It’s proof we’re operating healthier, more efficient buildings for our students and community. Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while also helping protect the local environment. We are proud that our program’s success is being recognized by ENERGY STAR.”

During a presentation to the IPS Board of School Commissioners, Murphy said that since partnering with Cenergistic on a comprehensive energy conservation program in 2018, IPS has saved $22,860,552. 

The environmental impact is equal to taking 21,144 cars off the street for a year or planting 2,045,749 trees in our community, he said. 

The 17 IPS buildings earning ENERGY STAR Certification include: 

• Carl Wilde School 79

• Charity Dye School 27

• Meredith Nicholson School 96

• Christel House Schools at Manual High School 

• Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 

• Eleanor Skillen School 34 

• Francis W. Parker School 56

• George W. Carver School 87

• Henry W. Longfellow Middle School 

• William Bell School 60 (Butler Lab School 60) 

• James A. Garfield School 31

• Positive Supports Academy 

• Ralph W. Emerson School 58

• Raymond F. Brandes School 65

• Rousseau McClellan School 91

• Theodore Potter School 74

• Thomas D. Gregg Neighborhood School 

The cost of utilities is the second largest budget line item for the district, and the prices for electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and water have been steadily increasing. To combat these rising energy and utility costs, IPS entered a partnership with Cenergistic to implement a comprehensive organizational behavior-driven energy conservation program throughout all its buildings and campuses. 

The district’s comprehensive energy conservation program addresses energy use throughout the organization. Energy specialists track energy consumption at all campuses through state-of-the-art technology to identify and correct areas where energy is overused. They work closely with district personnel as well as Cenergistic engineers and experts to continually optimize systems and schedules.