| Five Ways Students Can Save Energy | |
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Dateline: 04/19/02
Noting that America's schools spend more than $6 billion yearly on energy costs -- the largest expense for schools after salaries -- the Department of Energy announced five ways students can help their schools save up to 30 percent on energy costs.
According to the Energy Department, schools currently spend more on energy than they do for computers and textbooks combined. By practicing some basic conservation methods, schools could use energy savings to purchase books, computers, new playground equipment, fund special events and a variety of other school programs.
To observe Earth Day 2002 on April 22, 2002, the Department of Energy is encouraging students at America's 75,000 participating schools to add these five energy-saving steps to their Earth Day activities.
- Start an Energy Patrol. The Little Rock School District has pioneered the
use of Energy Patrols. More than 1,500 students evaluate and monitor the use of
lighting, air conditioning, heating and other energy systems on a daily basis.
Their efforts have helped the school district save over $700,000.
- Turn off computers and lights when you leave school. A computer left on 24
hours a day wastes $224 a year in electricity. By shutting off their 60,000
computers at the end of the school day, students in Clark County School District
in Nevada will save over $1 million in energy costs by year-end 2002.
- Ask your custodian what types of light bulbs are used in corridors,
classrooms and EXIT signs. Florida's Broward School District is saving $100,000
a year by replacing 40 watt light bulbs with three watt LED bulbs in its EXIT
signs.
- Ask your principal to add an "energy monitor" to school vending
machines. A simple device that soda manufacturers often pay for can reduce
energy costs on school vending machines by up to 50 percent. By installing 20
devices in six schools, Moscow School District in Idaho was able to save close
to $20,000 a year.
- Become an Energy Activist. Sixth-grade students at Buist Academy in Charleston, S.C. created a "donuts for daylight" campaign that raised money from community sponsors for five new high performance windows that let sunlight in while keeping heat out.
The energy saving initiative for U.S. schools is sponsored by the Rebuild America program of the Department of Energy.
About Rebuild America
Rebuild America is a network of 440 partnerships dedicated to saving energy, improving building performance, reducing air pollution, and enhancing the quality of life through energy efficiency. Rebuild America's EnergySmart Schools is dedicated to improving learning and teaching environments through energy-efficient design. Created by DOE in 1994, Rebuild America serves as a tool for community revitalization and job creation in many U.S. communities.
