Taxpayers to realize savings from energy conservation

The proposed 2008-09 school year budget will reflect the efforts of RCS’ faculty, staff, administrators and students to conserve energy and save taxpayer funds.

The budget proposal reduces by a combined $101,000 the district’s spending on natural gas and electricity fees.  The savings reduce the natural gas line spending to $85,000 and electricity spending for the district to $600,000.

The decreases – which were recommended by the citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee - follow two years of a district-wide energy conservation initiative that has helped the district reduce energy usage and offset dramatic utility rate increases.

Through those two years, the district has realized a cost avoidance of approximately $670,000. While not an actual savings as a result of those utility increases - 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.

“We presently are spending significantly less in these areas then we were three years ago even with price increases,” said district energy manager Matt Miller.

RCS entered into an agreement with the Energy Education Inc. two years ago in an effort to reduce energy costs. Energy Education projected 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 – which has been endorsed by the Board of Education - 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.

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.

He also lets faculty and staff know when they are not doing all they can do reduce energy usage. For example, during an update sent this week to all faculty and staff, Miller noted a “slippage in (turning off) computers and lights” when they are not in use.

Other energy conservation efforts in the district include:

• Turning off refrigerators in the faculty rooms and other areas during breaks

• Unplugging radios, coffee pots, microwaves or other electric devices  during breaks

• Closing off to faculty and others areas of the building for cleaning to avoid taking longer to perform those task and thus using more energy during breaks

• Ensuring mechanical systems are operating at optimal levels for energy efficiency