Rush City School
When school districts make decisions, kids are the bottom line. That's certainly the case in Rush City, where school personnel have teamed up with East Central Energy (ECE) to cut energy expenses, making dollars available for student programs.

"If we don't have to spend it on electricity, we can spend it on kids," said Facilities Manager Jeanne Korf.

She contacted her ECE Strategic Accounts Representative, John Bosman, for advice when the district decided to replace the aging metal halide lights in the high school gym, the mezzanine and the community recreation center. Safety concerns and inefficient energy use prompted the decision.

Bosman provided a recommendation on the type of lights to use and information on the energy-efficient lighting rebate available from ECE. He calculated the district's potential savings in dollars and in the amount of energy used.

The new T8 fluorescent high bays, installed last April, have reduced electrical demand at the high school by 21 kW monthly and will save 75,000 kWh annually. The lights will trim $6,000 a year from the high school's electric bill. The savings are more dramatic at the recreation center, which is used less than the gymnasium. Demand has been reduced by two-thirds and the estimated annual energy savings is 50,000 kWh. The result is $5,500 saved.

A $10,760 ECE energy efficiency rebate partially offset the $43,614 cost of the project. The district will recoup its costs in less than four years at the high school and in about one and one-half years at the recreation center.

The student athletes notice the improvement when they walk into the brightly lit gym.

"It's a world of difference; it's night and day," said Athletic Director Bob Schlagel. "Our athletes can see the difference. It's much brighter."

Unlike the metal halides, which took eight to 10 minutes to warm up completely, the fluorescents are fully on at the flip of the switch.

"We won on all counts," Schlagel said. "They're cheaper to operate, they give better light and they're safer."