San Bernardino Community College District Honored for Energy Conservation

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) was recognized for Leadership in Energy Conservation at the 2014 Green California School and Community Colleges Summit and Exposition in Pasadena last month. Green Technology, the summit host, is a non-profit focused on providing a forum at which government officials can communicate with those in the private sector who are developing, implementing and distributing green technologies. Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “We are very pleased to be recognized for our District’s 'conservation culture.' The San Bernardino Community College District has saved $1.2 million dollars in the past 20 months through its implementation of a conservation plan that has reduced energy consumption by almost 24 million (British thermal units), which is the equivalent of having more than 38,000 trees grow for 10 years. In addition, the solar farm located on the Crafton Hills College campus in Yucaipa generates excess electricity that is sold back to the utility companies for about $50,000 per year.” Tim Oliver, Interim Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Services and Business for the SBCCD, accepted the award on behalf of the District. Oliver said, “We have been able to incorporate energy conservation at some level into virtually all of the new construction and renovation of buildings funded through Measure M, which means we are leveraging taxpayer funds and maximizing the benefits of the bond measure.” According to Green Technology, the leadership awards were established to recognize outstanding environmental achievements by government entities in California. The award topics and winners are chosen in cooperation with the Summit’s Advisory Board. Award categories range from sustainability in transportation projects to climate change, energy innovation, water and waste management and may differ from year to year. All nominated projects are publicly financed and executed and have a measurable benefit to the natural and human environment.