Conejo Valley Unified School District employees studied the Energy Education Program for more than a year, concerned that it was too expensive. But two years after signing up for the energy-saving program, the district has seen savings of about $1.5 million.

At last week’s school board meeting, board president Tim Stephens called the Energy Education Program “one of the more successful programs we’ve ever had in this district.”

Energy Education Inc., based in Dallas, promises big savings to school districts through a districtwide energysaving process. The fees for the comprehensive plan are more than $1.2 million over the first five years.

“We thought that was a lot,” said Jeff Baarstad, deputy superintendent of business services. “But the fees were high because they said the potential savings was so great. They make a guarantee that you’re going to save enough to pay them those fees.”

Baarstad said in the first year—2007-08—the district saved $300,000 above the fees— and the program had only been in place for six months. During the 200809 school year, the savings jumped to $590,000, after paying off the company.

In utility expenses alone— just gas and electric—CVUSD saved $985,000 during the 200708 year. Baarstad said the majority of the savings came from regulating air conditioning.

“Because of the savings, we were able to give $23.50 per student back to the schools,” Baarstad said. “That’s a halfmillion dollars that we’d otherwise be paying Southern California Edison or The Gas Company. . . . And it’s the right thing to do environmentally, so that’s great.”

Energy Education Inc. has worked successfully with more than 800 school districts in the country. Part of the program is the mandatory hiring of a district employee who oversees energy savings full time.

“The energy educator does this job 24/7,” Baarstad said. “The point of the program is to use energy only when you need it. But if you aren’t using it, you literally turn it off.”

In the district, everybody shuts off computers at the end of the day, and all lights are shut off as the last custodian leaves.

Air conditioning settings are programmed at 74 degrees, and no employee can adjust that setting. Central air systems shut down at 4 p.m. and turn on at 7 a.m. The district added units that shut down air conditioning if there’s no movement in a room for 15 minutes.

The district also bought swimming pool covers, which save gas and water.

The most controversial change, Baarstad said, was the decision to shut off all the lights at school sites at 10 p.m.

“There were concerns that there would be more vandalism, but there’s been no increase,” Baarstad said. “In some places we’ve even seen a decrease. Most vandalism is done by kids, and most kids don’t want to be walking around in a completely dark place.”

CVUSD received a lot of support for the program—the Conejo Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association backed the district’s choice to sign on to the program.

“We got a lot of support from teachers and staff,” Baarstad said. “The teachers really had to be willing to relinquish control of the thermostat, and the maintenance team adopted the goals of the program.

“This is really an example of a local effort really blunting some of the state cuts.”

School board member Peggy Buckles asked Baarstad if there was a way to incorporate a similar project with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

“We are looking at some aggressive program when it comes to water conservation,” Baarstad said. “We’re not going to replace it with nothing, and it doesn’t mean we aren’t going to maintain the grounds.”

Ideas include installing artificial turf where the grass is only ornamental. A test pilot program would replace the lawns at the district offices with shrubs, wood chips and other ground cover. Baarstad said the water conservation project would be a major goal for the next school year.