Nov. 17, 2006 – The Department of Planning and Natural Resources' Virgin Islands Energy Office recently awarded $22,500 to the Elena L. Christian Jr. High and the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary Schools on St. Croix as part of its Adopt-A-School Program. V.I.E.O. initiated the program in 2004 to help schools with innovative approaches to energy education and energy conservation.
Both schools have had energy audits by A-Phix Maintenance Solutions and are awaiting a report on how best to make the school more energy efficient. The funds are to be broken down with $20,000 being dedicated to building retrofits and $2,500 to assist in the development of an energy-oriented curriculum.
Leila Muller, program monitor at the V.I.E.O., presented the checks to Principal Maria Encarnacion at Pearl Larsen and to Principal Willard John at Elena Christian. The funds for the grant came through the federally administrated Stripper Well Fund. The Energy Office is making an effort this month to also bring some schools from St. Thomas into the program.
