Using a program on a laptop computer, Jeff Turner, maintenance director for Ohio County Schools, monitors the temperature in each school building from pretty much anywhere he can get an Internet connection.

If necessary, he can even change the temperature inside each building from his computer – another way he can help keep the schools’ heating costs down.

Like many schools throughout the Valley, high fuel prices are sparking concern about higher heating costs. School officials in Ohio County said utility costs like heat, electricity and water added up to about $407,000 last year.

They used that number to estimate how much of the budget should be earmarked for utility costs for the upcoming year, but with rising costs and changing trends, it can be tough to get the dollar figure just right.

Turner said the biggest factor in managing costs is having the heating system on a schedule.

“We can tell these boilers and heating systems when to turn on. We can tell them when to turn off,” he said.

Turner also said yearly equipment checks and consistent maintenance help keep heating costs down.

The schools use natural gas-fired hot water boilers to heat the 16 school buildings, some which are more than 100 years old.