Real Students. Real Buildings. Real Savings
High school students are managing energy in live facilities—cutting waste, strengthening maintenance, and helping Washington schools meet the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
Impact In Numbers
The Big Wins (so far)
Here’s what Wenatchee’s student energy team has delivered.
Wenatchee High School is trending right
In 2025, WHS averaged $10,000/month in cost avoidance. ENERGY STAR® score climbed +5, and EUI is dropping ~3.5 units/month, on pace to hit 49 by May 2026.
Summer surge of savings
In the first five months (Mar–Jul 2025), WHS cut energy use by 54%—with parallel wins emerging across community facilities.
Districtwide PM, built and running
Students inventoried 1,297 assets across 12 schools and launched preventive maintenance in OperationsHERO—a major compliance step with work orders now generated and executed.
Culture change you can see
“Treasure Hunts,” staff posters, and the student-run AEM Helpdesk drove shutdowns—90% of portables fully shut down.
Community clients are feeling it, too
Partners like North Central ESD, Wenatchee Public Library, and Town Toyota Center are seeing measurable reductions as AEM expands community-wide.
How Students Do It
A clear playbook any district can adopt.
Make energy visible
Using the AEM Console, interns track monthly utility bills and 15-minute interval data, benchmark in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, and publish load-profile insights so “what’s on” finally matches “what should be on.”
Build the maintenance backbone
Students catalog electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, convert manufacturer guidance into PM checklists & frequencies, and load them into OperationsHERO—shifting work from reactive to routine, boosting reliability and performance.
Engage occupants
Principals and staff receive simple visuals, Monday announcements, and clear feedback loops. A student-managed AEM Helpdesk channels requests, fixes, and ideas—while interns practice customer service, troubleshooting, and professional communication.
Why It Matters
Operational wins that pay off for compliance, careers, and the community.
Compliance without capital
CBPS emphasizes six core requirements—from forming an energy team to implementing O&M. The AEM model helps districts meet them with no/low capital by tightening schedules, launching PM, and engaging occupants—avoiding costly non-compliance penalties.
Workforce development, for real
Students serve as the Energy Management Team inside real buildings—working with professionals, reporting from real data, solving real problems—and graduating with career-ready skills and confidence.
A community dividend
Cutting waste frees district dollars and preserves local utility capacity—helping keep rates stable for everyone. Context: Typical WA home ≈ $1,350/yr in electricity; Chelan County ≈ $287/yr.
The People Behind the Progress
This is a student-powered, professionally mentored movement by New Energy Technology. Fourteen interns from Wenatchee High School and Wenatchee Valley College are working shoulder-to-shoulder with the WSD O&M team, CTE leaders, and community partners who opened doors, shared expertise, and set a high bar for stewardship. “This is our story, so far.”
What’s Next?
AEM interns are full steam ahead, expanding impact across Washington—bringing data, discipline, and a service mindset to every building they touch.
If your organization wants measurable savings, a stronger maintenance program, and a student-powered talent pipeline, let’s talk.
Quick FAQS
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No. The initial wins focus on operations, scheduling, maintenance, and behavior—no/low-cost actions that pay back quickly. Capital projects can follow with better timing and stronger data.
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Many districts see measurable results in the first 90–120 days as schedules tighten, PM programs launch, and occupants engage.
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Interns are professionally mentored and follow a structured playbook. Facility staff guide priorities while students manage data, reporting, checklists, and communications.