Manhattan Country School is committed to ensuring the sustainability of our local and global environment through curriculum and practice. As part of this effort, MCS has partnered with Energy Curtailment Specialists (ECS), a company that helps to manage electricity demand in relation to available supply in the U.S.
MCS will be participating in their PowerPay! demand response program, which challenges organizations to reduce their electrical energy usage by shutting off lighting, equipment or processes for a specific amount of time, typically one to two hours. In a few days, MCS will get a surprise notification to start “powering off” or reducing energy usage for one hour.
A net meter was installed by ECS in the school’s basement, making it possible for teachers and staff to track the school’s power usage on a month-to-month basis and use the data as an educational tool. If MCS lessens its energy usage, the school will receive a rebate check from ECS for its reduction practices based on data maintained by energy supplier Con Edison.
“One of the cornerstones of progressive education is the idea that children acquire knowledge and makes sense of how things are connected through their direct experiences. The ‘powering off’ initiative is a very concrete way for the MCS community, children and adults, to see connections and the power of their actions to make change,” said Michèle Solá, Director at MCS.
“It’s a great way for the students to track how much energy we’re using. It’s a win-win situation because it’s useful for curriculum and there’s a monetary incentive,” said Lorraine Waters, Operations Manger at MCS.
Participating in an energy reduction program and sharing the findings with staff and students are just a few ways MCS is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint by 2020. Read more about sustainable living and projects at MCS, click here: www.manhattancountryschool.org/sustainability.html
To learn more about the PowerPay! program, visit Energy Curtailment Specialists online: www.ecsgrid.com or www.powerpayny.com
