Mounds View Students Help School Save Energy

MOUNDS VIEW, Minn. - With budgets shrinking, school districts across the state are trying to do more with less and looking for savings wherever it can find them. Now, students at one school are pitching in with a renewed emphasis on energy conservation.

The Mounds View School District figures it has saved about $400,000 on its energy bills just in the last year. Some of that came from upgraded equipment and technology, but there’s also been a change of habits in the classroom and it’s the students leading the way.

At Bel Air Elementary, the older kids in the building walk around in what they call, “energy efficient squads,” making sure lights and computers are turned off. It's all part of the Mounds View District's effort to save money.

"We’re doing the right thing because we're trying to use our energy in as judicious a manner as possible,” said John Ward, Mounds View District. “That’s a good thing for everyone."

The district has upgraded its infrastructure and is now pushing students and staff to change behaviors. Last year, Mounds View began working with a local company known as Schools for Energy Efficiency, or SEE. The firm provides guidance for K-12 schools to save energy and money. After 12 months, the district reported a 12 percent reduction in energy use for a cost savings of nearly $400,000.

"Any dollar that we can save in the general fund that can be utilized for programs that advance kids is always a good thing."

At a time when budgets are shrinking, every dollar counts when it comes to education. Classroom lights now shut off automatically when there's no activity in the room and the building temperature drops when the school empties. And if someone is wasting electricity, the students will find them. The principal admits he was recently busted for leaving his computer monitor on.