With a heating oil and natural gas crisis predicted even before multiple hurricanes devastated many production areas in the Gulf Coast region this year, schools are seeing their already overtaxed budgets further threatened by the high cost of regulating their physical environments.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, America's primary and secondary schools pay $6 billion annually for energy-related costs. These costs include everything from heating and cooling their buildings, to the cost of the electricity used for running lights, vending machines, and computers, to flushing toilets and preparing student meals.

Fuel oil costs are estimated to rise by at least 40 percent this winter, according to the Energy Department. Natural gas, which is used to supply electricity and/or heat to many homes and schools, also has closed at record highs and has more than tripled in cost compared with the national average from 2000 to 2005--$4.70 per thousand cubic feet. By this same standard measurement, natural gas for November 2005 delivery closed at $14.12.

In response to spiraling energy costs, school leaders are searching for sustainable solutions by using more energy-efficient lighting, computer-enhanced heating and cooling distribution systems, recycled materials that are more energy efficient, natural sunlight for school illumination, and even alternative energy sources.

In addition, many forward-looking school systems are designing or updating their buildings to reap environmental, economic, and social benefits. Many newly constructed or enhanced buildings also bring pedagogy into their building design, using standards set by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for building certification that favor energy efficiency and ecologically friendly design.

Existing problems and solutions

Charlie Schneider, sector manager for the schools and government division of the Wisconsin program Focus on Energy, says that, without serious conservation efforts, schools will almost certainly have to begin cutting from other parts of their budgets.

"Natural gas and heating oil prices were at unheard-of highs even before the natural disasters [in the Gulf Coast]," Schneider said.

"Some districts have contingency budgets they can use" to help meet the spike in energy costs they'll face this winter, he said. "But the problem with a lot of those monies is that, once they're gone, they don't come back."

Schneiderman said the difficulties paying for rising fuel costs can affect all levels of school budgeting.

"I am concerned that energy costs will have a larger [economic] effect on some districts," he said. "Will it affect curriculum budgets? I hate to say that it will, but I can't imagine that it won't."

Fortunately, there are some strategies that school leaders can employ right away to curtail the effects of soaring energy costs.