Fredericton, NB – Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) selected Bliss Carman Middle School to receive the prestigious 2023 ENERGY STAR® Canada Award for being the highest ENERGY STAR certified K-12 school in Canada for the second year in a row.
ENERGY STAR® Canada is a voluntary partnership between the government and more than 1,000 organizations working to use natural resources more wisely through greater energy efficiency. Behind each ENERGY STAR label is a product, home, building or industrial facility that is certified to use less energy, reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.
Last year was the first time NRCan separated schools into their own award category, and Bliss Carman Middle School had the distinction of being the inaugural winner. This year, once again, the award was given to Bliss Carman. “Having the real work of energy savings be recognized by this award two years in a row is a proud achievement and demonstrates the school district’s commitment to energy management in our buildings,” says Shawn Tracey, Anglophone West School District’s Director of Finance and Administration and a key leader in the district’s sustainability efforts. “This award also sets a good example to the students that their school’s impact on the environment matters.”
Equipped with heat recovery systems and state-of-the-art building management controls, Bliss Carman Middle School was built in 2009 with energy efficiency in mind. In 2018, the school district’s facilities team shifted to incorporating energy management as part of their day-to-day operations, and with the help of the school’s custodians, staff, and students, they have been able to uphold their commitment to efficiency. Benchmarking energy consumption, setting improvement objectives, monitoring and optimizing operations, implementing energy-efficient upgrades, and making smart choices like turning lights and electronics off when not in use have made this award-winning school a shining example of how energy management works. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, congratulates Bliss Carman Middle School: “Your efforts are driving innovation in energy efficiency, helping Canadians to save money on energy bills and contributing to the fight against climate change. The Government of Canada is pleased to support energy efficiency solutions as we advance to a sustainable and prosperous future.”
In 2023, compared to its 2018 baseline period, the school prevented 97 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to planting 1,604 trees. According to Tim Cross, Energy Manager, Service New Brunswick, who works closely with the school district on their energy management plan, this results from teamwork. “Everyone is working together to make a difference – from the government who designed the school and provided the bones to be an energy-efficient building to the district team and the students and school staff who proudly take care of it. Everyone strives to be aware, understand their personal impact on the environment, and do better.”
Anglophone West School District has recently adopted an energy management policy and continues to work on reducing energy consumption district-wide. So far, it has one other ENERGY STAR® certified school in its midst and is working on getting more schools on board in the coming years.
Social Media:
Twitter: @ASD_West, @BCMSEagles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bliss-Carman-Middle-School
Websites:
Natural Resources Canada News Release: