AUGUSTA, Ga. - Richmond County Schools are making more cutbacks that could save teacher's jobs.

This time around, the cuts are energy efficient. Teachers and students are going to have to make sacrifices, like less soda machines and perhaps colder classrooms, but school officials say it'll save close to a million dollars a year.

The school halls are being patrolled, but not by security. The schools’ energy conservation team is on the prowl.

"We look for doors that might be left open and for lights that are left on in rooms when they're unoccupied," said Lawson Hobbs of the Energy Conservation Team.

Richmond County Schools have cut millions of dollars from their budgets so far this year, with millions more possibly coming in January.

The energy conservation team is racing classroom to classroom to reduce energy costs across the 61 schools in the county. Heat, lights, even personal appliances, they all have to be regulated.

"We're basically calling this our low hanging fruit; the things we can reach out quick and conquer, although, we do have bigger monsters out there," said Scottie Paschal of the Energy Conservation Team.

Mini-fridges are one of the biggest enemies of the schools' energy conservation team. On a recent school search, they found as many as four fridges in a single room. They say removing a majority of them would save nearly $10,000 a year.

A typical soda machine can cost as much as $500 a year to power per machine. Some will have to go, along with lots of other money consumers.

Teachers say it's a much better option than cutting classes and especially their jobs.

"I think it's a great idea to cut back, to save money and try to economize, so we can have a basic school for the children and try to meet standard education requirements," said Laney High School teacher, Otis Smart.

So what kind of a positive impact will unplugging the power have?

Paschal and Hobbs say with the energy cost-saving measures they’re implementing, the school district will save between $600,000 and $900,000 this year. School officials are hoping those savings will mean lights out for the district's budget problems.

The energy conservation tells 26 News once they install other long term energy-savers, like automatic thermostats and motion light sensors, school savings should pass a million dollars a year.

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