BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Simple steps like using more efficient fluorescent light bulbs have helped Sullivan County school administrators cut their energy bills by about $1 million over the past nine years.

Kenny Goff, a foreman with the school system, said its total electric bill came to about $2.6 million in 1999, when a study on energy consumption was conducted. This school year’s electric bill was only $1.6 million.

"The biggest thing is behavior," Goff told members of the county’s energy task force, which met for the first time on Tuesday. The nine-member task force, made up of county department heads, was set up by County Mayor Steve Godsey to look at ways to save money on energy and fuel.

Goff said one of the simplest steps the school system took was to switch from T-12 fluorescent bulbs to T-8 bulbs, which are about a half-inch thinner and consume less energy.

Goff said the switch initially costs about $16 to $18 per bulb because fixtures had to be fitted with smaller ballasts the new bulbs required. The extra cost was recouped within two years through energy savings.

Director of Schools Glenn Arwood said switching every fluorescent bulb in the county’s 28 schools is part of the system’s conservation strategy. School officials, he said, also have been turning off any lights not in use and charging teachers to keep personal refrigerators in their classrooms.

In addition, they are shutting down computers at night rather than leaving them in stand-by mode. Goff said the measures have saved a total of $55,000 and does not harm the machines, despite what some say.

Godsey said the meeting was an "informal way to get information from folks to see what they’ve been doing."

After the meeting, Godsey said he will get in touch with the company that worked with the school system on switching its light bulbs to see if the same can be done for the county.

The county mayor said he wasn’t sure when the task force will meet again.

gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518.