South Dakota city revisits energy-saving policy
Rapid City Council in the US state of South Dakota has announced the re-creation of its Energy Policy Committee to revisit an earlier conservation programme put forward in 2003 but never fully implemented.
With potential to help the city save $260,000 (£159,000) annually, the policy recommends ways of cutting electricity use in city buildings by reviewing lighting and heating requirements, according to the Rapid City Journal.
Commenting on the policy, Alderman Bill Waugh told the news provider: "It's just common sense. When you're not in a building the lights aren't on. When you're not in a building, the heat's not on.
"There are just tons of ways to save energy in the city, and it will be reflected in our energy costs."
Suggestions in the original policy included regulating heating temperatures in city building at between 68 degrees and 72 degrees and lowering them when offices close.
Motion sensors can help companies and industrial units save power by only switching lights on when someone is in the room.
