For Immediate Release: August 30, 2017
Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will provide an estimated $800,000 in energy efficiency rebates this year to help Sunnyside Unified School District campuses become more sustainable through energy-saving improvements and student programs.
The first rebate check totaling about $72,000 will be presented this week at a kick-off event for the district’s “Battle of the Sunnyside Buildings,” a friendly energy saving competition among Elvira Elementary School, Challenger Middle School and Star Academic High School.
Catherine Ries, TEP Vice President of Customer and Human Resources, will join Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Sunnyside Superintendent Steven Holmes at the event, which will be held at Challenger Middle School, 100 E. Elvira Rd., on Thursday, August 31 beginning at 1:45 p.m.
Over the next three months, all three schools will continue to install energy efficient lighting and other upgrades to help reduce energy use, lower electric bills and brighten learning environments for children. Meanwhile, students will become “energy ambassadors” in search of ways to reduce energy and water usage in the classroom and at home. TEP representatives will visit schools to deliver presentations and educational materials about energy efficiency and electric safety.
TEP has helped more than 120 local schools identify and implement energy-saving upgrades through its Commercial Energy Solutions program, which covers costs for efficient chillers and HVAC equipment, variable frequency drives, room occupancy controls and other improvements. TEP’s customer-funded energy efficiency programs are reviewed and approved by the ACC and provide benefits to all customers – not just those who participate – by reducing TEP’s long-term need for new energy resources.
Energy efficiency programs enable customers to save energy while producing environmental benefits for the community. These savings help TEP work toward the goals in Arizona’s Energy Efficiency Standard, which requires utilities to achieve cumulative energy savings of 22 percent by 2020.
Customers participating in TEP’s energy efficiency programs have saved more than 1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) – enough energy to power more than 100,000 homes for a year. Participation helps to reduce our community’s reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in reduced air emissions and water usage.
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to nearly 420,000 customers in Southern Arizona. The company, founded in 1892, is commemorating its 125th anniversary this year through various community service initiatives. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information, visit fortisinc.com.
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com
