The Fayetteville-Manlius School District’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices has earned the district recognition for its efforts.

The district went through an intense engineering analysis and inspection in Spring 2012 regarding the requirements of the federal 2005 Energy Policy Act (EPAct). It was found that because of its use of energy efficient technology, the district has significantly reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions at all six of its school buildings.

Specifically, lighting technologies at each of the district’s school buildings have met and exceeded the requirements of the Energy Policy Act, earning the district the recognition of having “Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings” through the EPAct Gives Back program. Walker Reid Strategies, an engineering firm that administers the program, donated $2,746 donation to the school district to support its “green” efforts.

“The energy improvements made to your facilities proves your dedication to reducing energy costs and carbon emissions, while preserving the environment,” Nelson E. Marin, president of Walker Reid Strategies, wrote in a letter to the school district.

F-M entered into an energy performance contract in 2007 that converted most of the district’s lighting systems to the most energy efficient lighting available at that time. The conversion is expected to save taxpayers more than $25,000 in utility costs annually.

The project also resulted in a reduction in energy consumption that decreases the school district’s carbon emissions annually by 433,000 pounds, or 216 tons, a year. That is equivalent to the school district removing 38 cars off local roads or planting 1,075 additional trees in the community.