Utah’s Four-Day Workweek Falls Short of Savings Goal

January 23, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Last summer, Utah began testing four-day workweek for state employees. But the state says the program isn’t saving as much money as expected, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

When Gov. Jon Huntsman made the switch to a four-day workweek, he set a goal of increasing energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020. However, employees often came to work on Fridays and volatile temperatures and energy prices made reaching the goal increasingly difficult.

Originally, Huntsman’s staff set a target of closing 1,000 of the state’s 6,000 buildings on Fridays. But so far it has only been able to close 900 buildings, of which, 500 are leased. This reduces the ability to save on energy costs, according to John Harrington, the state’s buildings energy manager.

It remains to be seen whether the shorter workweek will be successful for states like New Hampshire and Washington, which also started testing the four-day workweek last year.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Stay competitive through sustainability.

Find out how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader