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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Students offer clever financial ideas to lawmakers 2/15/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, February 15, 2009 Turn off school lights, students say By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer OLYMPIA -- Turning off the lights in empty school buildings sounds like common sense, but it's not common practice. That's why two Snohomish High School students proposed it as law and secured an ally in the Legislature to push it along. Seniors Caitlin Malarkey and Claire Cummings reasoned a simple flick of the wrist by the last person leaving a classroom and most buildings will mean less use of the increasingly scarce resources of dollars and energy. The students are in Tuck Gionet's government and law classes at Snohomish High School. "Every night when I drive home the lights are on," Malarkey said. "They're really bright. We figured this might be one of the best ways to cut spending." Rep. Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland, agreed and turned their proposal into House Bill 1630. On Wednesday, the House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee held a public hearing on it. Eddy said as schools deal with declining revenues and rising energy costs, she wanted this straight forward idea to get attention. "Right now, the operating expenses of every agency should be reassessed, and conservation -- avoiding unnecessary costs -- should be first priority," she said. Technology exists to allow "penny-pinching building operators" to put operating and safety lights on timers and install motion sensors on lights and escalators, she pointed out. The U.S. Department of Energy lists energy costs as a school district's second highest expenditure after personnel, according to a report from the House committee staff. The federal agency estimates 8 percent to 10 percent of a school's annual lighting expenses could be saved by turning off the lights, the report stated. Ryan Spiller spoke on behalf of a coalition of school districts. He said the group was concerned the legislation, as drafted, might prevent lighting of exit signs because it requires only fluorescent lights be used on campus. He wanted revisions to allow use of other types of energy-efficient bulbs and illuminating devices if available. Eddy made clear the bill is intended to get people thinking. "While I do not expect this bill get very far, due to the objections of the school districts in what may appear to be micro-managing. I do expect that we'll return to this issue later on," she said. "Of course, we shouldn't have to legislate common sense, but we'll consider it if we have to," she said. Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn echoed the sentiment. "It makes common sense," he said. "Maybe we don't need a law to tell us to do this." Malarkey said that's the point. "It's kind of sad all of those lights and computers and other stuff is on at night, using power, and nobody's there," she said. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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