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Eighteen Nash-Rocky Mount Public schools and buildings have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

Nash-Rocky Mount schools buildings that earned the ENERGY STAR this year are: Baskerville Elementary, Benvenue Elementary, Coopers Elementary, Englewood Elementary, Fairview Early Childhood Center, D.S. Johnson Elementary, Nash Central High, Nash Central Middle, Nashville Elementary, Pope Elementary, Red Oak Middle, Southern Nash High, Spring Hope Elementary, Swift Creek Elementary, Williford Elementary, Winstead Avenue Elementary, Central Office Administration Building and Oak Level Maintenance Building.

"Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools is pleased to accept EPA's ENERGY STAR in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said Charles Lamm, Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Energy Management Coordinator. "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs."

Typical ENERGY STAR buildings use 35 percent less energy.

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools has saved more than $430,000 and more than $3,000,000 in cost avoidance savings.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $14 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles.

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.