State Takes Lazy Way to Cut Carbon 13%
[social_buttons] Utah’s move to a four-day workweek of 10 hour days for government workers has cut energy usage by 13 percent, and once they figure out how to turn off giant office air conditioning and heating units while they’re out of the office, it could rise to the hoped for 20%. Out of a state budget of $11 billion, they have saved $3 million on electricity and gas for 125 state-owned buildings.
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Other states are looking at trying this idea, and expanding it to include shutting schools, or stores or businesses. Power use in office buildings alone is a huge emitter of carbon.
The elimination of a work day would also eliminate two rush hours each week across the country, cutting your commuting costs and carbon emissions by 20%, just by driving to work four days instead of five.
Rush hour driving in itself burns up more gas. Snail-pace stop-start commuting causes more pollution than regular driving. (Well, unless you live in an area with great places to go on weekends; then those weekend commutes can sometimes be just as bad.)
Of course, expanding the idea to include shutting everything down one day a week; (not just government offices) is more likely to cut more carbon. But still, for Utah government offices, not bad going. Those Utah government workers now can boast of having “Green jobs.”
And it certainly makes it less stressful for you to get those building permits and contest your speeding tickets in traffic court when government offices are still open when you get out of work on a cool Utah evening.
Via Good
Image from Flikr user xollob58
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