Efforts by the Pella School District to become more environmentally friendly and energy efficient have been paying off, as is event by data recently compiled by Superintendent Mark Wittmer. Efforts to use less paper and energy by making fewer copies have resulted in a 14% overall reduction in copier usage between the Pella School District’s five schools and administrative building. Overall, the district made over 280,000 fewer copies in 2009 than 2008..

According to Superintendent Wittmer, an increased awareness of overall usage and changes to the district’s energy systems has led to an overall reduction in total kilowatt hours by 12%, led by a 28% reduction in energy consumption at the Pella Middle School. Wittmer says both pieces of data are significant because they not only have financial implications for a district trying to save money in the face of budget cuts, but also mean fewer emissions and the use of fewer trees.