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                      NEWS RELEASE FROM 

                     SENATOR PAT JOHNSTON


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For Immediate Release:                      Friday, March 17, 1995

Contact: Ross Sargent
(916) 445-2407


         EAST UNION HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES STATE GRANT 
             FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS


Sacramento --  Senator Patrick Johnson (D - Sacramento / San 
Joaquin) and Assemblyman Mike Machado (D - Linden) announced 
today that the Manteca Unified School District will install 
energy efficient lighting and other energy improvements at its 
East Union High School campus, thanks to the California Energy 
Commission's recommendation of a $107,700 federal matching grant 
from an energy conservation program.

The federal grant, which need not be repaid, enables the district 
to reduce utility bills at the high school by more than $41,200 a 
year. 

"Energy efficiency was built into the new science and performing 
arts buildings completed just last year at East Union High 
School," said Johnson.  "However, other parts of the campus date 
back to 1966 and offer many opportunities for energy improvement. 
District administrators and staff are to be commended for cutting 
waste by pursuing efficiency.  It is an important, common sense 
approach to take in this era of tight educational budgets."

In classrooms, offices, the cafeteria and the gymnasiums, 
energy-wasting lamps and fixtures will be updated to more 
efficient models.  Photocell controls will be added outside 
portable classrooms to automatically turn off exterior security 
lights in daylight hours.  Motion sensors will be installed to 
turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.  Improvements will also be 
made to the pump and boiler for the school's swimming pool.  

"East Union High has one of three public swimming pools in the 
Manteca area.  The campus gets a lot of use by the entire 
community," said Assemblyman Machado.  "That's why energy 
efficiency is so important -- it allows us to cut costs without 
cutting services to students and the community."

Total cost of the energy project will be $215,400.  From the 
energy savings alone, the district should recover its half of 
the cost in approximately two-and-one-half years.  


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State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2407

31 E. Channel St., Ste. 440
Stockton, CA 95202
(209) 948-7930


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File name: 95-03-17_Senator_Johnson_Release