Governments look for ways to cut energy costs

Philadelphia Inquirer, The, June, 2008 by Angela Couloumbis, Matt Katz and Nick Pipitone Inquirer Staff Writers

By the end of this month, the government in Gloucester Township in New Jersey will turn out the lights on Fridays - literally. And in Berks County, Pa., a number of office cubicles could soon go dark one day a week. All across the country, municipal and state governments are scrambling for solutions to their ballooning energy bills, and are considering everything from changing to energy-efficient lightbulbs to cutting the traditional five-day workweek.

As early as tomorrow, Berks County commissioners could consider whether to put some departments on a four-day workweek, following the lead of several local governments across the nation that have done so to save commuters and taxpayers money. Gloucester Township will soon join those ranks, although grudgingly. Facing steep...