PITTSBURG (BCN) — Six Bay Area schools won top prizes after competing in a three-week long regional competition to reduce their energy use, according to
competition officials.
The Energy Conservation Competition, which ran from Oct. 30 through Nov. 19 and included all schools from areas serviced by PG&E in California, aimed to instill the value of energy savings in school age children by making them more energy conscious, according to competition host Strategic Energy Innovation.
Competition officials said students from participating schools prepared energy conservation action plans, where they learned firsthand how they can impact energy use, help save resources and protect the environment.
Strategic Energy Innovation, also known as SEI, said five of the six schools that lowered their energy use during the competition were from the Pittsburg Unified School District.
Energy supervisor for the school district, Alan Glass said in a statement, “It was a pleasure and honor to see our schools come together for this important event. I applaud our students and staff for their hard work and we look forward to competing in the next competition to further our sustainability efforts within the district.”
Hillview Junior High School, Parkside Elementary School, and Highlands Elementary School, all from Pittsburg Unified, won first, second and third place, respectively, according to SEI.
Other Pittsburg schools that received awards were Rancho Medanos Junior High for most creative campaign action, and Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High School for best overall conservation campaign. Redwood High School in Marin County, the only high school to receive an award, won for most create campaign action.
SEI said a total of 47 schools engaged in the competition this year and collectively saved over $19,000 and 159,900 kWh, which is the equivalent to the CO2 emissions of burning 12,407 gallons of gasoline.