Empowered: Carbondale Middle School
At Carbondale Middle School in Carbondale, Colorado, students worked with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR staff to plan their Empowered program to eliminate energy waste. What did they learn about and keep track of?
Plugload: Are electronic devices plugged in only when in use?
Building Shell: Where at school does energy escape from doors, windows, and the exhaust fans?
Lights: Are they on when you need them and off when you don’t?
The Kitchen: How can kitchen staff partner to reduce energy use?
HVAC: Is the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning used as well as possible?
Data: Is there an easy way at school to regularly review data and assess the changes being made?
Watch videos of these teens explaining their step-by-step approach.
What impact did these students have when they applied their ideas to an elementary school? Between December 2009 and August 2010, they helped Crystal River Elementary save $19,000, plus 133 metric tons of carbon dioxide was not dumped into the atmosphere. They saved enough energy to power 11 single family homes for an entire year!
To find out how you can save energy at your school or home, download the Water Planet Challenge: You Have the Power Action Guide.
