Energy educator Terry Kiser had a simple explanation Friday for why the district's utility savings are down $100,000 from previous years.

Inclement weather and a hotter than normal spring led county schools to run heating and air conditioning units longer.

"We used more energy in the schools last year," Kiser said. "We still ended up saving more than $600,000 on our utility costs, so we had a good year."

The district saved $619,847 on utility costs during the 2007-2008 school year. In comparison, the district saved $708,444 in 2006.

The district has achieved a total savings of $5,626,618 in utility costs since the school board signed a 4-year contract with Energy Education Inc. in July of 1999. Since the contract expired, the Wichita, Texas, company has allowed the district to continue the program for free.

Savings on utility bills are calculated through Energy- CAP, a third-party software product. The program adjusts for load changes, school building additions, differences in billing periods and annual weather changes.

The district's only cost for the program is Kiser's salary, which is $66,059. Kiser supervises the energy education program in addition to his regular duties as school district hearing officer and attendance supervisor.

Cherokee County is among 20 school districts statewide where Energy Education Inc. has an energy conservation program in place.

The district has spent $13.7 million on utility bills over the past nine years. Without the energy conservation program, the most recent EnergyCAP report estimates the district would have spent $19.3 million to operate its 22 school buildings during this same time period.

Kiser visits schools after hours to make sure computers, lights and heating and air conditioning units are not left running when school buildings are closed. He leaves notes in classrooms and offices where computers or lights are left on.

"It is a common-sense program," Kiser said. "We shut down buildings during the summer months and holidays when they aren't in use."

Gaffney High School is the most expensive county school to operate because of afterschool student activities in the afternoon and evening hours.

The district spent $1.99 million on utility costs this past school year. Without energy conservation, the EnergyCAP report shows the district would have spent $2.59 million on utility bills at Gaffney High.

Most schools saved at least $20,000 on utility costs last school year.

The Cherokee County School District office saved $47,813 on utility bills. Blacksburg Primary saved $9,000.

The district will spend more money on utilities this school year with the completion of the new Gaffney High stadium, Gaffney High and Blacksburg High ninth grade additions, a 6-classroom addition at Goucher Elementary and a Limestone Learning Center.

The district will wait a year before adding the new school buildings to the energy conservation program, Kiser said. Utility expenses from the first year of operation will be used in future years to calculate the energy savings on the new buildings.

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