School System Believes Cutting Back On Heat Will Save Thousands

[The Straight Story]

School System Believes Cutting Back On Heat Will Save Thousands

FREDERICK COUNTY, MD - Frederick County public schools are facing some tough decisions when it comes to the upcoming fiscal year. Now they're hoping to ease their financial burdens by asking schools to use less heat.

All schools in the county are being asked to set their thermostats at 68 degrees.

Typically the temperature during winter months range from 68 to 72 degrees, but officials say if each school reduces their thermostats by one degree it could save more than $100,000.

Those funds could then be used to cover other costs.

"Our hope is not to make people uncomfortable, but to reduce temperatures to a level so that we are actually saving money," said Ray Barnes, the facilities director for the school system.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28681614/

[JeanGrey]

1. Nothing wrong with this. I keep my thermostat on 68 as well.

No reason the schools can't do it.

[theoldman]

2. England has always done this.

Kids are more alert of they are not too warm. My house is set to 70 degrees to save fuel. Many of my friends set their thermostat to 68 degrees.

[Statistical]

3. Sounds good to me.

I keep the thermostat on 64 most of the time and turn it down to 58 at night.

Very low gas bill. I would rather see them cut $200,000-$300,000 in heating costs then cut same amount in books, or teachers.

[LibraLiz1973]

4. GREAT idea. I am glad to see them taking it seriously

I keep mine on 60 at home.

[madrchsod]

5. i`m down to 60 or so at night and 65 during the day

my gas bill so far is lower than last years...

[2Design]

6. how do you stay warm - I have sweat pants on and two sweat shirts

and I am chilly

[madrchsod]

7. down blankets and a dog

we used to have three dogs..yes three dog night. but now we have one...a dog`s temp is 101-2 so they are perfect to keep us warm on a cold night

[4 t 4]

8. Yea It's just great

the underprivileged can now be cold too. Not to mention eating cheap bad unhealthy food, (because fruits and vegetables cost too much) Walking more in the cold, Living more to a room, having much less money in their pocket, making their shoes last longer, just being happy they have a winter coat let alone the latest style, being grateful they have a roof over their heads, not asking for more even though they work full time, what more does everyone want from people that are not the elite?

[Hanse]

9. They can expect grades and test scores to drop.

Cold students are distracted students.

Good idea? This is a damn shame.

[Telly Savalas]

12. Did they ban sweaters in this school district?

[SoCalDem]

13. That was my first thought too ...n/t

[jmowreader]

10. The question is, why weren't they already running their heat at 65?

There are some reasons to keep the temperature at 72, but a school doesn't have any of them.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

11. Frederick Co. is a wealthy locality, D.C. metro suburb gorging at Federal hog trough .

[MountainLaurel]

14. Fredneck is anything buy wealthy

It's pretty much where the people who can't afford to live in D.C. end up, not to mention there are a lot of old farming families there.