DECATUR — New light sensitive thermostats, installed in the Decatur High School last November, are already saving big bucks and are on track to pay for themselves in just a few months, school officialsreport.

When lights are on the sensors set the heat at 70 degrees, or air conditioners at 74 degrees. When lights are off the heat is set at 55 degrees and cooling set at 80.

The sensors can be overridden but return to their original settings four hours after the lights are turned off.

Similar sensors are in use at Ozark Adventist Academy in Gentry.

Opinion, Pages 9 on 02/17/2010