Cambridge Rindge & Latin School Earns ENERGY STAR Certification

Facility Outperforms 94% of School Buildings Nationwide

The Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS), located at 459 Broadway, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy performance for 2017. 

“This is a great achievement for our City and Cambridge Public Schools,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.  “The City and school department work closely to advance our efforts to implement the City’s Net Zero Action Plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and this recognition shows the City’s leadership on climate protection and demonstrates to our students how important sustainable practices are.”

The high school, serving over 1,900 students in grades 9 – 12, achieved a score of 94 out of 100 on ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager tool, placing it in the 94th percentile of schools reporting building data.  

Commitment to Environmental Leadership

“Cambridge Public Schools and CRLS continue to demonstrate true environmental leadership by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are proven to contribute to climate change,” stated Jean Lupinacci, ENERGY STAR Director for Commercial & Industrial Buildings. “Today, 45 percent of U.S. emissions are attributable to commercial and industrial buildings, which is why improving energy efficiency is so critical for our future.” 

ENERGY STAR certified buildings are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics. ENERGY STAR is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance.

“We’re honored to earn the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance at CRLS and appreciate the efforts of everyone who has been involved in its efficient operation,” said Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Salim. “Saving energy is just one of the ways we show our community we care, and that we’re committed to doing our part to protect the environment and public health, both today and for future generations.”

Approach to Building Renovations

According to Chief Operating Officer Jim Maloney, the high school's 2010-11 building renovations included significant sustainability improvements, including a chilled beam HVAC system, high-efficiency lighting that maximizes daylight. "Our facilities staff should be commended for their excellent job performance in managing energy use," Maloney said.

The City and Cambridge Public School District (CPS) are committed to initiating, developing, and implementing sustainable practices.  CPS committed to lowering the school district’s carbon footprint and saving money by implementing energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects, with some examples of this being participation in the Electric School Bus Pilot Program, and Green Ribbon Schools designations. Additionally, the City is constructing new school buildings, like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. school and King Open and Cambridge Street Upper schools, to be at or near NetZero greenhouse gas emissions.