Funding will reduce school’s energy costs by 26% and make a healthier learning environment

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 8, 2026) – As part of a broader effort to help local schools save money while engaging students in learning about the benefits of energy efficiency, Normal Park Museum Magnet School – Lower School Campus (NPMM) has been awarded a $210,000 grant from EPB and the TVA EnergyRight® School Uplift program. The funding includes $200,000 for building energy upgrades, along with a $10,000 Learning Environment Grant to support non-energy improvements developed with input from students and faculty.

The program helps public and private schools make informed energy decisions that improve learning environments while lowering operating costs. As part of the program, EPB Energy Pros℠ worked with teachers and staff at Normal Park Museum Magnet to complete a comprehensive energy assessment that led to the school’s selection.

“Our teachers, staff and students have worked together all year to make a difference in how much energy we use and incorporate energy lessons into the classroom,” said Dr. Jamelie Johns, principal of Normal Park Museum Magnet. “By lowering energy costs and improving classroom comfort, we can focus more resources on teaching and learning while also modeling responsible stewardship for our students.”

Winning grant to fund big improvements

Originally constructed in 1890, energy-saving upgrades to the school’s historic facility are projected to reduce energy use by 26 percent annually, resulting in estimated annual energy savings of $31,162. The improvements will also reduce air pollution by an estimated 201,152 pounds each year, equivalent to the pollution from a passenger vehicle driving more than 230,000 miles – nearly as far as the moon is from Earth.

“This grant is exactly what we look for when thinking about student learning and community partnership,” said Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. “Our Portrait of a Graduate outlines the characteristics we want our students to develop, such as being solutions-oriented and community and culturally aware. This grant allows students to be a part of finding a solution that helps lower energy usage in Hamilton County. It has allowed students real-world learning, while also providing resources to support Normal Park's sustainability long-term. We appreciate EPB and TVA for their support and investment in Hamilton County Schools."

NPMM students at all grade levels are participating in activities to reduce the school’s energy footprint, including incorporating energy-efficiency education into science and reading instruction. Lab classes included lessons on energy efficiency and hands-on learning exercises. For example, students and teachers developed routine “shut down” procedures to power down classrooms to save energy. Through newsletters, staff and families also received tips about how to save energy at school and at home.

“Congratulations to the students and staff at Normal Park Museum Magnet for their leadership and commitment to making a school that’s stronger for the future,” said Carrie Fogleman, Director of Energy Efficiency Programs at TVA. “Through TVA EnergyRight® and our partnership with EPB, we’re helping schools like Normal Park Museum Magnet create healthier, more comfortable spaces where students can thrive.”

“EPB supports School Uplift because it gives students a hands-on opportunity to see how their everyday actions can make a real difference in their school and their community,” said EPB President and CEO-Elect Janet Rehberg. “At EPB, our mission is to enhance quality of life in our community. Programs like this help prepare students for the future workforce by developing problem-solving skills and empowering them to make an impact, no matter the path they choose.”

The majority of the projected savings will come from replacing existing lighting with LED fixtures and installing sensor-based lighting controls throughout the campus. Additional improvements may include high-efficiency HVAC heat pumps, pipe insulation and occupancy-based thermostats, all designed to enhance comfort and indoor air quality. The school may also install a reflective cool roof to reduce heat absorption and lessen demand on the new HVAC systems.

“HVAC systems use more energy than any other building system in most schools, businesses and homes, so improvements like these can make a meaningful difference,” said David Vanzant, Energy Services Supervisor at EPB. “Through programs like School Uplift, our Energy Pros help schools identify practical upgrades that reduce energy use and long-term costs.”

Normal Park Museum Magnet School – Upper School Campus also received a $10,000 Learning Environment Grant to support non-energy improvements developed with input from students and faculty.

Girls Preparatory School (GPS) honored with $25,000 grant

GPS also won a $25,000 competitive School Uplift grant to help the school save money and energy by creating a comprehensive engagement program with students and the community that made measurable improvements in energy costs, supported by EPB. Among the many programs GPS implemented were eco-citizenship and other energy-efficiency topics integrated into lesson plans, from French to Physics. Locally, students helped promote Free Tree ReLeaf, led by EPB, the City of Chattanooga and Reflection Riding and augmented their garden program, which shared the harvest with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. GPS also highlighted the impact of energy efficiency on outbound student travel.

About School Uplift

School Uplift is a year-long energy management training program developed with the State of Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative. NPMM joins over 440 schools that have completed School Uplift over the past six years, competing to earn grants for building upgrades and other learning environment improvements. On average, participating schools save about 10% on energy costs. Other schools in EPB’s service area that received $10,000 Learning Environment Grant include Apison Elementary School, Berean Academy, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, East Ridge High School, Red Bank Elementary School and Silverdale Baptist Academy.

TVA EnergyRight® and EPB are currently recruiting public K-12 schools for the 2026-2027 school year. Visit energyright.com/business-industry/school-uplift/ to express interest in participating in this exciting program.

About EPB

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, EPB is a nationally recognized energy and communications provider with a mission to enhance quality of life for the people it serves across its 600-square-mile service area. Starting in 2010, EPB gained notice as a national model for building and utilizing its 100% fiber-to-the-home network to deliver cutting-edge services such as the world’s fastest community-wide internet, now with service up to 25 Gig, and the nation’s most advanced automated electric grid.

As a pioneer in fiber optic innovation, EPB also launched EPB Quantum℠ to provide access to cutting-edge quantum technology platforms and help innovators bring paradigm-shifting solutions into the real world. With the launch of EPB Quantum Network® in 2023 and EPB Quantum Computing℠ (coming in 2026), EPB Quantum offers the most comprehensive, commercially available quantum technology platform in the U.S.

Learn more at epb.com and EPBQuantum.com.

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