Tumwater district joins energy-saving program

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published October 31, 2008

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TUMWATER – The Tumwater School District has joined a three-year program with Puget Sound Energy that could save about $60,000 the first year and more in subsequent years.

The school board on Thursday approved a new policy that was a requirement of the program.

Tumwater schools will commit to having a part-time employee who looks for ways to make the buildings more energy-efficient, and at the ways that buildings manage their electricity use, said Bob Kuehl, district human resources executive director.

"Of course, we'll be turning off lights and that sort of thing ... but it's to really take a look at where we could save money," he said.

The big-ticket items would be in the ways the schools are heated or ventilated, for example, Kuehl said. While there might be some expenses to replace some inefficient systems, there would be savings in management.

Puget Sound Energy's Resource Management Program grants the district $40,000 a year for three years to pay the employee's salary, he said.

Allen Jones, district director of financial resources and support services, said the district hoped to save about $60,000 for the first year but that continuing the efficiencies would increase the savings in subsequent years.

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.