DERRY, N.H. — A hot day in September might sound like the start of an elementary school teacher's nightmare, but yesterday's 88 degree temperature and bright sunshine fit right into Principal Matthew Olson's plan.
Olson, the staff and the children at South Range Elementary School are trying to save energy and money by doing simple things, like turning off classroom lights when they leave the room or when the lights aren't needed. Research shows children learn better in natural light, said fifth-grade teacher Sarah Muncey. Yesterday was a perfect day to flick off the light switches because the sunshine streaming through the windows provided enough light.
"We're going green," Olson said, striding down the corridor to show every other overhead light was turned off. Local schools are doing their part to save energy and the environment, and some, like the Londonderry schools, have reaped big benefits.
Peter Curro, business administrator for the Londonderry school district, told a recent meeting of the Budget Committee that the schools saved more than $100,000 on energy and utility bills last year because of steps the district took to manage the use of electricity in every building.
"Surprising, isn't it, in this energy crunch to hear about saving money," he said later.
Curro estimated the district will cut its losses on heating oil by converting two schools from oil heat to natural gas. He said the heating bills will go over budget because officials planned on $2.40 a gallon for oil, which now costs $3.69 a gallon. But instead of going over by $100,000, the switch to natural gas will slice the shortfall to about $20,000 or $25,000, and that's including all the one-time costs for the installation. The work will be completed at Matthew Thornton School and at Londonderry Middle School before Thanksgiving.
Londonderry School Superintendent Nate Greenberg said district schools have been cutting energy costs for about seven years and have now realized $2.4 million in savings.
"We have been extremely cost-conscious over the years," he said.
In addition to the energy program, the schools have saved by teaching special needs students on site, instead of sending them to out-of-district schools and by cutting down on buses.
Olson said people may not realize how much money it takes to pay for energy in schools. Derry school officials are working on estimates, he said. He could not project a figure yet. So far, the schools are in line to receive recycling bins for plastic and aluminum cans. They have been recycling paper for at least five years.
All Derry schools are in the Go Green promotion, which started Tuesday with the first day of school.
School Superintendent Mary Ellen Hannon said South Range School also has a Go Green committee, and educators have been developing ways to connect the focus on the environment with the curriculum. For example, she said, students will use math skills to measure the amount of paper they're recycling.
Olson said teaching is ongoing, as educators find opportunities to get students thinking about energy conservation in class. Teacher Anna Clark, who instructs accelerated math students, said students are interested in environmental issues, but don't know much about them.
Muncey said she asked her class last year if people should give up luxuries to save the environment. Initially, the children said they liked Hummers and flat-screen televisions. On the other hand, they also wanted to save the polar bears.
"They didn't connect the dots," she said.
But now, Muncey said, they understand they can take small steps and accomplish great things. Already this year, the youngsters are reminding her to turn off lights.
This year, her class is going to draw graphs comparing last year's energy consumption at school with this year's use. She said she hopes they will see cuts in the energy bills.
