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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (August 13, 2026) – Rhode Island Energy (RIE) is proud to have partnered with Central Falls High School on its new state-of-the-art facility, helping the newly constructed school achieve significant energy savings through advanced energy efficiency measures and sustainable building design.

Through the company’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program, RIE contributed nearly $423,000 in incentives to help offset the cost of energy-efficient upgrades incorporated into the new school.

Energy-efficient upgrades include:

• Enhanced building envelope
• High-efficiency lighting
• Exhaust air energy recovery
• Advanced HVAC controls
• High-efficiency condensing boilers
• Low-flow faucets and shower heads
• High-efficiency domestic hot water systems

Together, these improvements are expected to save approximately 90,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 6,600 therms of natural gas annually, reducing yearly energy costs for Central Falls High School by more than $31,000.

"Investing in energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to lower long-term operating costs while creating healthier and more comfortable spaces for students and staff," said Michael Cunningham, Lead Energy Efficiency Specialist at RIE. "We're proud to have partnered with Central Falls High School on a project that demonstrates how smart energy planning can benefit communities for decades to come."

Through these energy-efficient upgrades, electricity savings alone are projected to be enough to power approximately 25 classrooms for an entire 36-week school year. On the natural gas side, projected savings are enough to heat nearly 60 classrooms throughout a full winter season.

In addition, these energy cost savings are anticipated to free up resources to help fund educational programs, student services, and other priorities.

"From the beginning, our goal was to create a modern school that serves students today while remaining sustainable and cost-effective into the future," said Purnima Demorais, Principal at Central Falls High School. "RIE's support helped make that vision possible and enabled us to incorporate advanced energy efficiency measures that will benefit our students and staff for years to come."

About Rhode Island Energy 

Rhode Island Energy provides essential energy services to over 770,000 customers across Rhode Island through the delivery of electricity and natural gas. Our team of more than 1,300 employees is dedicated to helping Rhode Island customers and communities thrive, while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future. Rhode Island Energy is part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient, and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions.  

For more information visit www.RIEnergy.com and stay connected on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.