ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CAUSE STATE TO DECLINE SUPPORT FOR DISTRICT WIND TURBINE PROJECT

Other energy savings projects to move forward

Oct. 28, 2011 - During this time of uncertain economics and sharply declining state aid to education in New York State, the State Education Department recently changed its policies regarding some energy savings projects. Because of the changes, some projects that would have been approved under existing guidelines will no longer receive aid, including the proposed wind turbine included in the Warwick Valley Central School District’s energy savings program.

Noted Dr. Ray Bryant, Superintendent of Schools, “I’m disappointed that we will not be able to move forward with the wind turbine project. The project would have helped reduce District energy costs while providing our students and community with an opportunity to learn firsthand about green, sustainable energy.”
Other District energy savings projects will still be supported, including lighting replacement and sensors, weatherization and insulation, energy and computer management systems, co-generation unit to generate electricity, replacement of transformers and more.

Because the policy changes were made during the approval process, the State Education Department will reimburse the District any review and design costs associated with the turbine project.

WARWICK ENERGY-SAVING CONTEST ANNOUNCED

Local Not-for-Profit Organizations Encouraged to Vie for $10,000 Grand Prize
June 9, 2011 – Warwick Valley Central School District, the Town of Warwick, RECAP (Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc.) and Platinum Sponsor WVT Communications are excited to announce Energize Warwick, a great new program. Not-for-profit organizations (such as service clubs, booster clubs, PTAs, scouts, houses of worship) serving the community and located within the Town of Warwick, Florida Union Free School District, Greenwood Lake Union Free School District, or Warwick Valley Central School District (including the Town of Chester portion of WVCSD) will be eligible to win the grand prize of $10,000 in cash, while our community works together to save energy and money as we improve comfort in our homes. MORE

WVMS STUDENTS RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL SCIENCE CONTEST
Students Win Honorable Mention for "Igniting Creative Energy"
May 25, 2011 – Sixth grade students Raquel Paredes and Rachel Donnelly were recently recognized as Honorable Mention winners in the national “Igniting Creative Energy” science contest. Click here to read more.

PROGRAMS THAT LET YOU IMPROVE COMFORT, SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE YOUR EXPENSES
There are several programs available to help you save energy and money while improving comfort. We've gathered them here to help you get started. MORE

ENERGY GRANT ELECTRIFIES WARWICK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Small Photovoltaic Array Producing Electricity Since 2002
A small 2kW photovoltaic array -the result of a 2002 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant written by Ed Sattler - has been producing electricity for high school use since 2002. Fifty of these units at schools statewide are intended to demonstrate PV technology. A 2kW system generates approximately half the electricity used by an average home.

Click here to see the cumulative positive impact of Warwick's system since March 2005.
Click here to see the unit's current performance.
Click here for more data.

WVCSD'S COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY SAVING PROGRAM
Planned Projects Will Save Energy and Energy Costs
The upcoming energy savings program includes 15 projects, including the wind turbine at Sanfordville Elementary School, to save energy and energy costs for the district. The projected total savings for the program is nearly $300,000. per year. Implementation is slated to begin in late spring/early summer 2011. Click here for a description of the projects.

WHY WARWICKS ENERGY SAVINGS PROJECT MAKES FISCAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SENSE
Energy Performance Contracts Are Nothing New for Public Schools in the Region
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is an innovative financing technique that uses cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy conservation measures. Click here for an overview of these programs by Ed Sattler, Teacher on Special Assignment for Environmental, Conservation, and Energy Education.

DEC OFFERS FREE AND LOW-COST TREE SEEDLINGS
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers low-cost tree and shrub seedlings for NYS landowners, with ORDERS DUE by mid-May (the warmer it is, the sooner sales close). Click here for their complete listing of available shrubs and trees. Click here for ordering details.

NYS DEC provides thorough instructions on how and when to plant these (mostly) bare-root seedlings. Ed Sattler, Teacher on Special Assignment for Environmental, Conservation, and Energy Education, has supervised and helped plant over 12,000 of these seedlings. He emphasizes the importance of carefully following DEC planting instructions and recognizing how established grasses (as in a hay field) vigorously compete against bare root seedlings.

WARWICK STUDENTS PRODUCE VIDEOS ON ENERGY AUDITS
WVHS Communications Classes Document Ways to Make Homes More Energy Efficient
Members of WVHS Communications classes recently worked with teacher Ed Sattler and a team of energy audit professionals from RECAP Inc. to film an energy audit at a local residence. After completion, the video footage was used to produce two public service announcements detailing NYSERDA's Green Jobs/Green NY home energy audits and weatherization program. Click here to read the Times Herald-Record story. Click here to watch the student-produced PSAs that will air on cable outlets in New York State.

DISTRICT ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM OK'D BY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Dec. 21, 2010 - The Board of Education voted at last night's Work Session to proceed with the wind turbine project on the grounds of Sanfordville Elementary School as part of the District's comprehensive energy savings program.

• MORE ABOUT THE WIND TURBINE PROJECT (PDF)
• RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE TURBINE WOULD LOOK LIKE ON SITE (PDF)
• THE DISTRICT'S ELECTRICITY USAGE 2001-07 THROUGH 2009-10 (PDF)
• ENGINEERING WIND STUDY OF PROPOSED SITE (PDF)
• WIND TURBINE SOUND AND HEALTH EFFECTS (PDF)
• WIND TURBINE COST AND PROJECTED ENERGY SAVINGS (PDF)
• WIND TURBINE STATISTICS - RESPONSE (PDF)

NEW YORK PROGRAM HELPS YOU REDUCE YOUR ENERGY COSTS
Apply Now for a Free or Reduced Cost Residential Energy Audit
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently launched a new program which removes the typical financial barriers to weatherization and energy-efficiency improvements, including lighting, furnace, insulation, windows, doors, etc.

GETTING STARTED: For information about the program and an application for a free/reduced-cost comprehensive residential energy audit in New York State, click here. This energy-saving/money-saving program will continue until funds are exhausted.