June 5, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — "I just continue to be inspired by the efforts of students and young
people who continue to respond and exceed expectations every time,"
says Steve Setchell, of the Putnam RISE School Challenge. The program honors schools for energy conservation efforts. Setchell, director of corporate and foundation relations at DePauw and 1996 graduate of the University, is chairman of the Greencastle Sustainability Commission, which oversees RISE.
Local school corporations were honored at an event Friday which featured a speech by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. "Cloverdale Community Schools won the challenge, cutting energy bills by 20 percent, or $12,731, during March and April," writes Jared Jernagan in the Banner-Graphic. "Greencastle Schools, which started an energy savings program five years
ago, won the savings
per square foot challenge, at $.14 per square
foot." (photo below, l-r: Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray listens as Sen. Lugar addresses a crowd at The Inn at DePauw)
"This is one of the meaningful moments of connection between what we're doing in the community and the most important issues that we're facing in the world," Setchell tells the Banner-Graphic. "It's certainly an honor to have the recognition of Sen. Lugar, who came to make those connections and to recognize how our efforts match up with his aspirations for an energy efficient community, state and nation."
Read the complete story at the newspaper's website. Setchell is also quoted in the Evansville Courier & Press.
Setchell's efforts to make Greencastle "greener" were noted in an April 8 Bloomington Herald-Times article.