Herbert may keep four-day workweek

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Utah's four-day workweek, launched a year ago by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., has led to a 13 percent drop in energy consumption in state offices, a preliminary analysis by the Utah Department of Administrative Services shows.

However, more information is needed before state officials can determine whether the pilot program has met savings goals and should continue.

Compiled in late July, initial data tracked nine months of utility bills for 125 of the state's 900 structures that shut down on Fridays. The report focused on larger buildings where most state employees work Monday through Thursday.

By October, a full year of information regarding energy savings, employee feedback and customer satisfaction will be analyzed and sent to the state's top executive to chart the program's future.

"We'll provide [Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert] with as much accurate information as we can," said Vicki Schoenfeld, administrative services department spokeswoman. "It will be his decision whether to continue or not."

Herbert is set next week to become Utah's governor after Huntsman's expected confirmation to serve as the U.S. ambassador to China.

Whether Herbert, a Utah County conservative, will decide to keep or kick the four-day workweek remains to be seen.

"He really wants the data to drive that decision and to make sure it's worthwhile for the state to continue," said Jason Perry, who is directing Herbert's transition.

While Herbert and the more moderate Huntsman hold divergent views on climate change, Perry expects Herbert to remain proactive about the state's role in energy conservation.

"He still believes we should be good stewards of the Earth and conserve where we can," Perry said. "You're going to see that as a consistent theme."

For the past year, 17,000 state employees have participated in the giant experiment, working 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Huntsman initially projected that powering down on Fridays would result in savings of $3 million the first year, but later described the estimate as more of a long-term goal.

Even so, 82.7 percent of state workers now prefer the new work schedule, according to the latest survey of 10,000 employees conducted in May.

"The biggest [employee] concern is no longer child care or transportation," said Jeff Herring, executive director of the state's Department of Human Resource Management. "It's now become after-work activities such as church callings, soccer games and time with kids."

This summer, state workers also got serious about reducing personal energy use on the job -- by unplugging phone chargers and microwaves at night, and turning off computers and printers at the end of the work day, for example.

"There's someone from every department to lead the charge to make this a success," Schoenfeld said. "We can each be in charge of our own energy savings."

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