School district chalking up energy savings

By SCOTT POWELLLedger Staff Writerspowell@gaffneyledger.com

Energy educator Terry Kiser opens one of the many books he has used to track the district’s savings on utility bills over the past six years. The total so far is more than $3.5 million. (Ledger photo by SCOTT POWELL) Since June of last year, the Cherokee County School District has saved more than $637,000 on utility costs through its energy conservation program. The district projects it will save an additional $50,000 on utilities this month before completing its sixth year with partner Energy Education Inc. Based in Wichita Falls, Texas, Energy Education Inc. works with school districts to reduce utility bills by carefully monitoring energy use.

Cherokee was one of only two school districts involved in the Energy Education Inc. program when school trustees signed a 4-year contract with the company in July of 1999. Since the contract expired, Energy Education has allowed the district to continue the program at no cost.

Today, there are 20 school districts statewide affiliated with Energy Education Inc. Spartanburg District 7 and Clover School District 2 of York County will start using the program this coming school year.

District figures show Cherokee County schools have saved $3,555,940 on utility costs since the program was implemented six years ago.

Without the energy conservation program, energy educator Terry Kiser estimates the district would have spent $11.5 million to operate its 22 school buildings over the past five years.

“This program has the backing of the school administrators,” Kiser said. “Without their help and the effort of the district employees, we wouldn’t be able to save this money on utility costs.”

This year’s figures do not include Blacksburg Primary, which just completed its first year of operation. The Blacksburg Primary utility bills for the 2004-2005 school year will be used in future years to calculate energy savings just like the district’s other schools.

Kiser visits three to four schools every day on his way home from his job as the district’s

school hearing officer and attendance supervisor. He periodically does energy audits in schools to make sure lights, computers and heating and air conditioning usage is kept to a minimum when school buildings are not in operation.

The Cherokee County School District is closed on Fridays from June 17-August 12.

The savings from a 4-day summer week have been reduced by ongoing construction at Gaffney High School along with Luther Vaughan, Mary Bramlett and Alma elementaries conducting yearround classes. The three elementary schools will start another school year July 15.

The trade-off on energy savings has been improved test scores at the three yearround schools. For example, Luther Vaughan Elementary had the district’s highest writing scores on the state’s Palmetto

Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) last year.

The district is able to redirect saved dollars on energy expenses into other areas of the budget to benefit students, Kiser said.

“It’s a common sense program. We shut down buildings during the summer and holidays when they aren’t in use. We keep track of little things like keeping televisions and VCRs turned off so schools won’t have to replace them after a thunderstorm,” Kiser said. “Our goal is to reduce our energy costs in our schools. It’s been a team effort by everyone.”