NYSERDA recognizes Ithaca School District for energy-efficiency achievement

ITHACA — The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced that the Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) and Kulp Auditorium have received the New York Collaborative of High Performance Schools (NY-CHPS) distinction for high level, energy-efficiency achievement, according to a NYSERDA news release.

With those designations, the Ithaca City School District is the first district in New York state that has received two NY-CHPS verified school buildings, according to the release.

NY-CHPS recognizes schools with healthy, safe, and high-quality learning environments that are less expense to operate than schools built to code, and that preserve valuable resources, while continuing to be environmentally friendly, NYSERDA explains.

“The NY-CHPS Verification Program is an effective energy-efficiency gauge for schools looking to assess energy use and increase sustainability,” Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA, said in the release.

The Lehman Alternative Community School and Kulp Auditorium were both recognized for addition and renovation projects that increased energy efficiency well above what is required by the New York State energy code, the release said. Lehman was recognized for being 30 percent more energy efficient and Kulp for being 36 percent more efficient.

The Lehman School received special commendation for areas that included the use of materials with low life-cycle costs and the use of recycled, salvaged, or fast, renewable materials that have a reduced environmental impact, according to the release.

“Our district is working hard not merely to meet standards, but to set them,” Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of the Ithaca School District, said.