Green is The Word/ Act XXXVI

Mighty Good Friday! 
(Or as some say, "thank God it's Friday!")

Starting next month, Utah state employees will be
exclaiming "thank God it's Thursday". In a yearlong
experiment, Utah is about to become the first state to
switch to a four-day work week for thousands of
government employees. The aim is to reduce energy
costs and gasoline expenses.

Select employees will put in 10-hour days and get paid
the same. Of course, this will affect those who need
to use state services and find certain offices closed
on Fridays. Additionally, some parents may have to
rearrange their childcare to accommodate the longer
hours. Bus and commuter train schedules might have to
be adjusted.

It's been estimated that by turning off the lights,
the heat, and the air conditioning on Fridays will
save about $3 million a year out of a state budget of
$11 billion. Employees should save about $300,000 in
gas expenses.

"We feel like we can reduce the CO2 or the ozone by
around 3000 metric tons, as well as have an impact on
our air pollution," said Kim Hood, executive director
of the Department of Administrative Services.

Many Utah state offices will extend their hours and
stay open from 7am to 6pm so people can use government
services before or after work. Residents are also
being encouraged to use the Internet for hundreds of
ordinary services, such as automobile registration 
renewals.


"The heights by great men reached and kept, were not
attained by sudden flight. But they, while their
companions slept, were toiling upward in the night."
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Praise be to the Almighty "end of the work week",
whichever day it is!

Curtis
High Priest of Green