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December 1, 2005

The high cost of energy hits school appliances

While school districts around the country are placing limits on personal appliances in an attempt to hold down energy costs, one new approach appears to be unique. St. Paul, Minn., schools have imposed a new fee on school staffs for having coffee makers, microwaves, and refrigerators in classrooms and offices.

In announcing the policy this month, interim Superintendent Lou Kanavati described the $25 per appliance annual fee as one in a series of steps to save money, AP reports. He said the district's energy costs this year could exceed $6 million—far more than the $3.6 million officials budgeted for. Teachers are not happy with the new rules. These appliances cost the St. Paul school district $100,000 per year, one official estimates. Ideas schools are trying range from unplugging refrigerators over holidays, to banning microwaves and refrigerators completely. The Alliance to Save Energy is one group helping schools figure this out.

Posted December 1, 2005 5:24 PM

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