Dickinson ISD Gator Bytes

Pulkinen to lead new Energy

Education Conservation program

Energy conservation will be a big focus throughout Dickinson ISD this coming school year as the district implements a new Energy Education program intended to reduce consumption of energy and in turn save money. Leading the effort will be Energy Educator Jeff Pulkinen. Pulkinen has been with Dickinson ISD for 16 years, serving as Head Athletic Trainer for 15 years before becoming assistant principal at Calder Road Elementary last school year.

Through a partnership with Energy Education, a leading behavioral and people-oriented energy conservation company, the district and Pulkinen will receive support and training to identify areas through building audits where the district can conserve energy. Education will be a large part of Pulkinen's job. He will receive intensive training from Energy Education energy consultants to implement energy conservation behavior and procedures throughout the district. He will conduct energy audits to ensure that students and teachers are comfortable during class time and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary.

"I look forward to visiting all the campuses, getting to know our employees and educating them on some simple things the district can do to conserve energy and save money that can be put back into the budget to benefit our teachers and students," said Pulkinen.

The program also has a student component that can be used to teach students the importance of energy conservation. Through lessons in class or in math and science afterschool organizations, students can get relevant, hands-on experience that they can also apply at home to help with energy conservation. To verify the program's effectiveness and measure its success, Pulkinen will track energy consumption -- including electricity, water, sewer and natural gas -- using third-party energy-accounting software. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, the software helps the district and Energy Education quickly identify and correct energy consumption that needs to be addressed.

All costs of the Energy Education program come from the district's existing utility budget, with savings guaranteed to more than pay for the program. Additional savings can then put money back into the classroom by redirecting the savings to other parts of the budget.