The Opportunity

A growing district in Riverside County, Nuview Union School District (NUSD) is committed to what they have defined as their “Mandate of Excellence.” As a five-school K-12 district, faculty and staff are tight-knit and intent on helping equip all their students with the educational tools and community support to enter meaningful college and career opportunities after high school. Like many small districts, NUSD sought out ways to leverage existing resources to continue to provide best-in-class education without having to sacrifice much-needed curricular initiatives.

The Partnership

In early 2013, NUSD selected ENGIE Services U.S. (ENGIE) to transform the District’s energy performance through a unique combination of solar, energy efficiency, and safety and security measures across schools. It was essential to NUSD leadership, that students, staff, and community receive educational benefits from any large-scale construction improvements as well. Excited by the unique opportunity to build a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Lab as part of a comprehensive energy program, NUSD was able to redirect energy savings to support mission-critical goals around STEM hands-on learning.

STEM Lab

NUSD’s energy program improvements were a perfect platform for expanding student and community understanding of the real-world applications of STEM subjects. The NUSD and ENGIE partnership culminated in the construction of NUSD’s first STEM Lab, housed and operating at Mountain Shadows Middle School. The STEM Lab allows over 120 middle school students a day to explore real-world topics in a hands-on way — with modules to engage learners around 21st century issues like sustainable agriculture, intelligent homes, and oceanography.

3 Dimensions of Impact

ENGIE is committed to building three dimensions of impact in every customer’s future:

• Supporting People
• Saving Money
• Protecting the Environment

Through the implementation of cost-saving sustainability programs like new solar shade covers across the District, NUSD has been able to invest the projected savings into STEM Lab curricula and hands-on modules capable of nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers. In addition to nearly $5 million in net savings, the installation of 622 kW of solar PV sets a precedent of sustainability for the community to follow. As of fall 2014, the whole District’s energy program has been linked to a broader energy education program with training open to teachers across subjects. In addition to the success and positive community support for NUSD’s STEM Lab, ENGIE has helped lead hands-on STEM and energy education activities for students across the District to ensure that the large-scale technical work will continue to enhance NUSD’s focus on excellence across the District.