Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Shared Savings
How and when will my school receive Utility Conservation Program money?
When funding allows, we help share utility savings across the District. The amount of shared savings available is calculated based on resource use over the previous school year.
Procedures
All money is transferred into the school budget account titled “Utility Conservation”. The total award amount will be transferred to the supply reserve line, 5990. The budget coding for Utility Conservation awards will be fund– 1000 and fund center _X7927425.
Is my school eligible for Utility Conservation Funding?
Utility bills for the previous year from September through June are examined for all schools. Funds are awarded to those schools that meet or exceed district conservation goals. All District schools receive information about the utilities cost and use at their site. in rare cases funds cannot be awarded because data are incomplete.
How may we spend our Utility Conservation Program money?
Please spend your funds within one year. Schools are encouraged to use their award money to continue current conservation projects or begin a new one. It is up to each school to determine what they would like fund at their school, and to manage the spend‐down of their Utility Conservation account. Schools are not required to submit any formal reports on how they spent the award money.
Spending Recommendations and Ideas for Conservation
It is strongly recommended that the school Green Team decide how the school best use the funds provided. Some examples of past projects include: repairing window shades, supporting student Green Team meetings, field trips to the zoo/aquarium, building or maintaining a school garden, and purchasing tools for the custodian and building operators.
Individuals should work closely with the school Administrative Secretary, Fiscal Clerk, and/or Principal before using any Utility Conservation Program money to ensure that their intended use meets current District practices.
How does the District this program?
The District tracks resource use each year, and when we save money by using less resources a portion of this money may be provided to the schools that save resources. Compared to the previous years, district‐wide energy and water use has decreased. Refuse has also decreased, while recycling increased. This has resulted in utility use avoided costs, or costs that Seattle Public Schools has not had to incur. In accordance with SP 6810, a portion of the savings is reinvested in the Utility Conservation Program to support conservation at a school level.