04/25/2012

Energy efficiency pays off for Pinellas County schools

District earns $260,000 rebate from Progress Energy and will save more than $1 million in annual electric costs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 23, 2012) - On Tuesday, April 24, Progress Energy Florida will present the Pinellas County School District a rebate check for more than a quarter-million dollars for the district's long-term, energy-efficiency investments. The rebate check is for the first two phases of a three-phase energy-efficiency improvement program the district began back in 2009.

During the multi-year project, Progress Energy worked collaboratively with the schools to ensure the district would obtain the maximum benefit from its energy-efficiency upgrades. The improvements included upgrading the lighting systems to energy-efficient fluorescent fixtures, adding automated lighting controls and installing more efficient HVAC chillers. Progress Energy estimates the school district will reduce its energy use by more than 9 million kilowatt-hours and save more than $1 million in energy costs each year.

When the planned, third phase of energy-efficient lighting and HVAC upgrades is completed by the end of this year, it is expected that the district will reduce its electricity use by up to 12 percent, a total of about 13 million kilowatt-hours each year, for a total estimated electricity savings of more than $1.5 million annually. 

Progress Energy Florida is committed to helping residential, commercial and industrial customers lower their electric bills through a number of energy-efficiency programs. Customers can learn about money-saving rebate programs for energy efficiency upgrades, energy saving tips and more at www.progress-energy.com/save.

The rebate check, for more than $260,000, will be presented at Tuesday's Pinellas County School Board meeting held at the district's headquarters, 301 4th St. SW in Largo, starting at 5:30 p.m. With more than 140 facilities across the county, the Pinellas County School District is one of Progress Energy's largest customers in the county.

Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy Florida is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system.www.progress-energy.com.

###

Media contact: Progress Energy Florida 24-hour media line, 866.520.6397

distributed by