MEDIA ADVISORY / PHOTO OP: Direct Energy Business Energy Efficiency Grant builds a greenhouse for Propel East Charter School
Direct Energy volunteers will help staff and students build a new greenhouse
Pittsburgh, PA (9/16/2009) - The students of Propel EAST are in for a green surprise on Friday, September 18. Direct Energy volunteers will help staff and students build a greenhouse, as part of an energy efficiency and green-themed day. Propel EAST serves 400 students in grades K-8. The school is located in Turtle Creek and is one of Propel’s five high performing charter schools in the Pittsburgh region.
Following the build, Propel students will hear about energy efficiency at a special assembly with guest speaker Dave Walton, an energy efficiency expert with Direct Energy. Students will learn easy energy saving tips they can put into action at home and at school.
The school plans to use the greenhouse to study plants, grow vegetables, house a butterfly garden, and conduct solar energy experiments. The greenhouse was made possible through an energy efficiency grant from Direct Energy.
The greenhouse build is another act of green by Direct Energy Business, who will be greening the city of Pittsburgh during the G-20 Summit by offsetting the entire city’s electricity consumption through the use of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
WHAT: Greenhouse Build and Energy Efficiency Assembly
WHEN: Friday, September 18, 2009
9:00 a.m. to noon (rain or shine) – Greenhouse Build
2:30 p.m. – Energy Efficiency Assembly
WHERE: Propel EAST
1611 Monroeville Avenue
Turtle Creek, PA 15145
PHOTO OP: Greenhouse Build, Energy Efficiency Assembly
About Propel Schools
Propel is a not-for-profit school organization whose mission is to catalyze the transformation of public education in Southwestern Pennsylvania so that all children have access to high performing public schools. We pursue this mission by opening and operating high performance schools of choice in educationally underserved communities. We do this on the belief that establishing a competitive dynamic in public education is the best way to provide the region’s public schools with sustained incentives for the hard work of continuous self improvement.
About Direct Energy Business
Direct Energy Business is one of North America’s largest commercial retail energy suppliers and a Direct Energy company. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Direct Energy Business is dedicated to helping customers make cost-effective choices for their electricity and natural gas requirements. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Direct Energy Business serves nearly 50,000 customers in 14 states, the District of Columbia and five Canadian provinces. Direct Energy is wholly owned by Centrica plc. (LSE:CNA), one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. To learn more, visit www.directenergybusiness.com.
For further information, please contact:
Crystal Jongeward
Direct Energy
416-590-3248
crystal.jongeward@directenergy.com
Anne D'Appolonia
Propel Schools
412-325-7395 x105
adappolonia@propelschools.org
Direct Energy® is a subsidiary of Centrica plc. All rights reserved. Centrica was created following the demerger of British Gas plc in 1997 and is now a leading supplier of energy and related services. To read more about Centrica plc please visit www.centrica.com.