Education Matters US

The Grayslake Elementary District 46 Schools is preparing to have an energy review to see if solar or wind power can help them save money.

Energy costs are the latest area where Grayslake Elementary District 46 officials want to make significant cuts.

District 46 isn’t alone in trying to hold the line or reduce its electricity tab. School districts based in the Mundelein area, Hanover Park and Carpentersville are among those looking at wind turbines and other ways to slice expenses.

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Michael Linder, District 46 board president, suggested the district solicit three companies to perform “first-class” energy audits and then offer a contract to the one offering the best price for services.

Linder said the district might even be able to make extra money by renting roof space to a company that’s interested in producing solar power.

District 46 already has taken steps toward cutting its energy costs by lowering temperatures to 70 degrees early each evening. That move is projected to save about $9,000.

My first suggestion to save on costs is actually bid on services instead of the no-bid processes used in the past for energy, waste management and healthcare. To read more about the No-bid energy process see the following:

• Illinois Energy Consortium
• IUPC ENERGY CONSORTIUM UPDATE
• UPDATE ON NO-BID ENERGY CONTRACTS
• ILLINOIS ENERGY CONSORTIUM
• D46 AND D127 NO-BID ENERGY CONTRACTS
• ENERGY CONSORTIUM UPDATE
• SCHOOL ENERGY CONSORTIUM COLLECTING MILLIONS

To read about other spending cuts recently see: GRAYSLAKE ELEMENTARY CUTS 29 JOBS – WHO’S TO BLAME