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                     NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                  CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION

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For Immediate Release:              For Information Contact:
June 23, 1995                       Rob Schlichting - 916-654-5159


               THREE CENTRAL COAST SCHOOL DISTRICTS 
                 WIN AWARD FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

To honor their commitment to reducing energy use, the Coast, 
Cambria, and Cayucos School Districts will be presented with the 
California Energy Commission's first "Bright Schools Energy 
Management Award" at the districts' combined School Board meeting 
in Cambria Thursday, June 29, 1995.

The framed resolution commends the three districts for their 
significant contributions "to the State of California's 
environmental quality, economic growth and energy security."

"Since 1993, these districts have analyzed their energy use and 
identified where their schools can save the most," said  
Commissioner Jananne Sharpless of the Energy Commission.   
"Working with the Commission, all three have displayed an 
extraordinary commitment to energy efficiency.  Their 
accomplishments offer shining examples for other school 
districts to follow.  That's why we chose the Coast, Cambria, 
and Cayucos School Districts to receive the first-ever Bright 
Schools Energy Management Award."

The three districts operate schools near Hearst Castle State Park 
in San Luis Obispo County.  Using a $98,000 low-interest loan 
from the Energy Commission, they completed lighting, heating, 
ventilating and air-conditioning projects at Coast Union High 
School, Santa Lucia Middle School, and Cambria Union and Cayucos 
Elementary Schools.  As a result of the improvements, the 
districts will cut their energy bills by more than $25,000 a 
year.

"By upgrading our schools with energy efficient lighting and by 
switching to modern air-conditioning and heating technology, we 
greatly improved the comfort of our students, " said Richard 
Lambert, Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations for the three 
combined school districts.  "Our classrooms are now more 
productive, even as we cut our energy costs." 

The Bright Schools award to the Coast, Cambria, and Cayucos 
School Districts singles out Lambert for overseeing the schools' 
energy efficiency projects.  From the energy savings alone, the 
districts can repay their loan in less than four years.


Bright Schools Program Supervisor Don Kazama will present the 
award on behalf of the Energy Commission.


                            # # #

For more information, contact:
Richard Lambert, 
District Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations, 
Coast, Cambria, and Cayucos School Districts, (805) 927-1609

Rob Schlichting
Information Officer, Energy Commission, (916) 654-4989


end of file
File Name: 95-06-26_Cambia_and_Others_Receive_Bright_Schools_Award