Utah's 4-day workweek cuts energy use 13%

Closing Utah state offices on Fridays has resulted in a 13 percent reduction in energy use, according to an internal analysis of the nation's most expansive four-day workweek program.

Since last August, about 17,000 of the state's 24,000 executive branch employees have been working 10 hours a day, four days a week in an effort to reduce energy consumption and cut utility costs.

It's an experiment being closely monitored, and sometimes duplicated on a smaller level, by cities and states across the country that are grappling with growing budget deficits.

"I can't even name all the places that have called us," said John Harrington, state energy manager.

The analysis, shared with The Associated Press on the one-year anniversary of the program this week, covers the first nine months of the four-day workweek, although it doesn't pinpoint cost savings with the exception of a $203,000 reduction in custodial contracts.

Final cost saving estimates will be released in October, when analysts will have had time to pore over 11 months of data to account for fluctuations in utility rates and weather.

Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman anticipated saving $3 million out of a more than $10 billion budget with the four-day workweek in its first year, but early on state officials said that target would likely be missed.

That's because the price of oil and electricity have dropped since last summer, more than 200 of the state's 900 buildings were already closed on Fridays and it took several months to get the rest of the state's buildings to operate more efficiently on the days employees were there.

Some employees were also slow to abide by orders to leave the office on time or not come in on Fridays while other employees work in buildings where utility costs are included in rental agreements.

Harrington is now focusing on 125 of the largest state-owned buildings where between 80 and 90 percent of state employees work to determine savings.

Incoming Gov. Gary Herbert, Huntsman's current lieutenant governor, is expected to make a decision on whether to extend the program shortly after the October report.

Even though employees are still working 40 hours a week, Harrington says energy savings are being realized under the new schedule because buildings were previously being used at all hours of the day to accommodate wildly divergent work schedules and personal preferences. Now, anyone who comes into work early, stays late or comes in over the weekend does so without being guaranteed the heat or air conditioning will be on.