Rising energy costs have prompted local schools to look for ways to conserve.

Roger Hamm was hired in May as utilities monitor for the county school system. Since then, county schools have implemented a number of ideas to encourage students and employees to save energy.

Hamm said the price of natural gas rose 37 percent in October. The county has about 14 campuses, all but two of which use natural gas for heating. According to the state Department of Education, 75 percent of Alabama schools use natural gas.

“It’s continually going up and we’ve got to try and do something,” Hamm said.

School personnel have been given tips from gas and electric companies, and elementary school teachers are appointing one student in each class to serve as “energy captain” for a week. That idea was adopted from Shelby County schools, Hamm said.

Energy captains are in charge of making sure lights and computer screens are turned off when not in use and shutting doors and windows to keep heat in. Children love the program, Hamm said, particularly the badges they receive.

“It’s been tremendous, really,” he said. “The kids are really excited about being energy captain.”

As utilities monitor, Hamm will visit schools to perform energy audits, making sure cost-cutting procedures are followed.

“Most people want to help,” Hamm said. “They just don’t think about it sometimes.”

City Schools Superintendent Jan Harris said the city school system, with five schools, each on separate campuses, said energy tips were also distributed to her administrators.

“We’re looking at the issue,” Harris said. “We’re working with that every day. We encouraged the principals to contact their teachers and tell them how important it is to turn the thermostat down, and we’re looking for ways to save money just with conserving.”

City schools facilities director Anita Overturf said she expects costs to continue rising. Each campus has some natural gas equipment, used to varying degrees.

“We’re anticipating higher fuel costs for now,” Overturf said. “We have been told the highest costs have yet to be incurred.”

The school system considers energy efficiency along with age and other factors in deciding when to replace equipment, she said.