by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers

Turning off lights and shutting down dormant computers is saving money in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District.

The district spent $249,115 on energy from July through September of 2004, compared with $275,395 during the same months in 2003.

The district spent nearly $20,000, or 7.4 percent, less on energy in its first quarter of 2004-05 than a computer-generated baseline estimate of $269,065.

The effort is part of a $4.4 million budget reduction in 2004-05. The district is using the Schools for Energy Efficiency program developed by Hallberg Engineering Inc. in an effort to shave energy costs by 10 percent, or around $100,000 districtwide.

"Many of our schools in our first quarter have reached or exceeded that target,î said Steve George, a retired district administrator hired as a consultant to head the program.

The robust savings in the first quarter of 2004-05 may not be duplicated every quarter, George told the School Board Jan. 6.

"A lot depends on rate changes, weather changes, etc.,î he said.

But the first quarter is a good start to reaching the 10 percent goal, he said.

"This is an outstanding beginning for this program,î said Board Member Dan Luth.

District buildings already have computer-controlled HVAC systems to maximize energy efficiency. Schools for Energy Efficiency is an effort to change human habits.

A big push is getting staff and students to turn off lights and computers, George said. "Turn it Offî stickers are affixed to light switches, and energy conservation posters are on building walls.

"I'm focusing on those low- and no-cost initiatives,î George said.

Building custodians are "working very, very hard at achieving their individual goals,î he said.

John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

Top of Page

Check out this week's newspaper for more about your community.

Thisweek Newspapers
12190 County Road 11, Burnsville, MN 55337
Telephone: 952-894-1111 Fax: 952-846-2010