RCS energy conservation program continues to pay big dividends.

For the month of October – the most recent period available – RCS realized a $32,198 cost avoidance in energy expenditures for the seven district buildings. That amounts to 40 percent of what would have been spent had the district not instituted a strict energy conservation initiative last year, Energy Manager Matt Miller said.

Since February - which marked the start of the second year of the initiative at RCS – the district has saved $255,000 in cost avoidance. The overall cost avoidance since the program was instituted in early 2006 is $566,000 - well in excess of a half-million dollars.

RCS is hesitant to call the cost avoidance a savings since rising energy prices have eaten into some of the savings. However, if the prices were the same as last year, Miller said the district would have saved that amount of money.

The cost avoidance is the difference between what would have been spent if the district had not implemented an energy savings program and what it actually spent.

RCS entered into an agreement with the Energy Education Inc. early last year in an effort to reduce energy costs. Energy Education projects a total seven-year savings of $878,318 for the district by reducing energy consumption in the district's four schools, as well as other buildings.

The program involves implementation of a series of conservation efforts and faculty and staff education initiatives.

During summer months, this has meant the thermostats in all district buildings where air conditioners are present have been turned up to six-degrees from past summers, up to 76 degrees.

During the winter months, the thermostats are set between 68 and 70 degrees.

The change impacts the offices and certain other areas in all four schools, as well as the District Office Building, Transportation Department Building and Facilities Department Building.

 “It’s about finding a medium where our faculty, staff and others can still work comfortably, yet the district can find savings,” said Superintendent Wright.

Additionally, Miller tracks energy consumption – including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel – using energy accounting software. By doing so, he can quickly identify and correct areas that need immediate attention.