Modesto City Schools

What We're Doing

Program #1 - Partnership with Cenergistic

About Cenergistic 

• Our energy conservation program: creates a culture of sustainability, improves comfort, and minimizes energy waste.

  Between 2020 and 2024, the partnership with Cenergistic resulted in $3.3 million in utility savings.

• Cenergistic provides ongoing training and support to the district, including student engagement opportunities such as school site "Energy Audits."

• For the Energy Conservation Rankings listed on the right side of this page, please see the following notes:

• Rankings are typically 2-3 months old because it takes that long to receive all bills from every site.

• A benchmark was established in 2019 for all utility costs at each different school site.

• Every school is being compared to their own performance from 2019. That way we accurately measure the positive effects of implementing the recommended energy conservation measures by students, staff, and administration at their school site. Changes in habits and behaviors drive the savings up or down.

• The software used takes into account the annual differences in temperature, weather, and construction changes in building square footage.

• Please check these out reports and contact Gilbert Rosas to learn how your students can help improve your ranking?.

"By instilling a culture of sustainability in your district’s faculty members and students, you can save dollars — dollars to spend in areas your district needs the most. And, with comfort being a top priority, rest assured your facilities will not only operate at optimal efficiency, but at optimal comfort as well."
- Cenergistic

🏆Top Monthly Savers
October 2024 (% Savings)

High Schools
1. Downey - 36.5%
2. Davis - 24.4%
3. Modesto -10.4%

Junior High
1. Hanshaw - 14.9%
2. Roosevelt - 13.8%

Elementary
1 . O. Wright - 32.0%
2. Sonoma - 31.8%
3. Bret Harte - 28.7%
4. Kirschen -27.2%
5. Rob Road -24.1%

Program #3 - Student & Staff Engagement-Easy ways students and staff can help Save

Turn Out the Lights 💡
Lighting is one of the largest energy users in schools and one of the simplest ways to reduce energy use.

1. ✔ Pick an Energy Monitor or Form a Student Energy Patrol (Students can help make sure lights are turned off before recess, lunch, and after school in classrooms and shared spaces not in use.)

2. ✔ Start a “Save Energy” Campaign on campus (This can be as simple as creating signs to remind others to turn off the lights when leaving a classroom.)

3. ✔ Turn Off Unneeded Lights (Having all the lights on in a classroom isn't always necessary. Try experimenting with half-lighting, natural light, and other lighting levels to determine comfort.)

Minimize Heating and Cooling Costs
Save on energy costs without sacrificing comfort. It’s expensive to heat and cool school buildings, but indoor temperatures must be comfortable so teachers can concentrate on teaching and kids can concentrate on learning.

1. ✔ Respect the Predetermined District Settings for Thermostats

2. ✔ Don’t Block the Airflow Around Vents

3. ✔ Close the Doors and Windows (Avoid propping doors and windows open when heating and air conditioning are running, it wastes energy and makes HVAC units work harder.)

Reduce Energy Demand of Computers, Appliances and Equipment
Reducing the energy demand of computers, appliances, and equipment at schools is a creative way to save energy and money.

1. ✔ Set Computers and Monitors to "Sleep" Mode (Sleep mode saves energy, screensavers do not.)

2. ✔ Form a Student Energy Patrol (Much like with the lights, students can help make sure computers are turned off before recess, lunch, and after school..

3. ✔ Turn Off Computer Equipment (Turn off monitors that will not be used and be sure to turn equipment off at the end of the day and on weekends, unless instructed otherwise by IETS Department Staff. Some networks undergo upgrades and weekend maintenance.)

Resource: Cool California