Published Quarterly by The

Energy Center, The University

of Texas at El Paso
Sponsored by the Texas
Comptroller of Public
Accounts - State Energy

Issue: Conservation Office,

l !
Specia Pr o j e c t s
and the United States
Department of Energy

ng
Volume 7 Number 4
The Newsletter for Watt Watchers and Watteam.
Now incorporating WATTimes and the Texas School Energy Manager News. C a l l i Winter 2003

Real Projects in the Real World with Real Results

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make a difference. There are symbolic projects that may lead
You Can. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t change to energy savings by raising awareness or
the status quo. You Can. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t getting people to think. Many of these
do a real project. You Can. You can change your school, projects are very worthwhile and important.
your community, and even the world. You Can. Really. They may involve organizing an energy week
at your school, producing posters to inform
Are you a member of a student organization whose your fellow students about energy,
members participate in environmentally related projects? scheduling a speaker to come to your
How do you know which project is the right project? school, or making crafts from recycled
There are numerous environmentally related projects that materials. All of these are excellent choices
student organizations have to choose from and/or adapt. and we hope you are doing them now and
In fact, there are so many that it can become difficult for continue to do more. However, you may want
an organization to determine which one best suits the to go beyond these projects.
group’s needs, and equally as important – which one
has the best ending results. There are some projects that directly save
energy by changing behaviors, managing
You can do a project with your school group that will make hardware, or turning equipment off. Watt
a real difference. If you are planning a project, think Watchers calls these projects – Real
seriously about what you want to accomplish. There are Projects in the Real World with Real Results.
projects and then there are projects. They may require you to convince adults in
your school district to change the way they
When deciding on an environmental project for a school, do things. You Can.
a student organization needs to ask
s o m e important questions. First, Real Projects save Real Dollars. Real Pollution in the

Watt Watchers of Texas what is the goal? Is the Real World is also prevented. Watt Watchers wants to
organization trying to help the support your group to do real projects. Please contact
school become more energy us for more information about power management, soda
conscious, is the machines, and other real projects.
The Energy Center organization trying to
educate students on Real Projects in the Real World with Real Results are
University of Texas at El Paso environmental issues, is the not for everyone, but if your school group is up to it —
organization trying to get more students Get Real. You Can.
P.O. Box 68660 involved in keeping their community clean, is the
organization trying to help their school save money –
El Paso, Texas 79968 all of these questions are good and each needs to be
addressed before committing to an environmental
Continued on page 14 with examples of
WATTS INSIDE
projects for your group.
project.
Watts Across Texas.........2
Transmission Line............3
“Watt” a great time we are having at Our Watt Watcher Patrol of eight fifth grade students Operation Cat Drop..........3
Southridge Elementary in used our language arts block to write explanations of the Lighting Project................4
Lewisville Texas! program for all the classes in our building. Each student Power Management.........5
has a grade level to patrol and they leave notes and Pay Me Game.................6
treats for the classrooms and offices where lights are
TO:
Lapel Pin.........................7
turned off when not in use or conserved by only using Conservation or.................8
Please Route: one switch. This group loves to draw so they will be Pull Out Posters..........9-12
o Science Chair painting switch plate covers for the classrooms in Fun & Easy Projects.......13
o Student Council January and doing a special-delivery Valentines Day
Real World Projects........14
o Librarian message (We Love to Save) in February. The kids
Program News...............15
o Energy Manager are really encouraged by the assistance and support
Feeder Schools..............16
we’ve received... Woody the WonderDog (our Watt
Vending Machine............17
Watcher Mascot) will be going on patrol if we save
Energy Mgr. News..........18
on our next electric bill. That will be our next big
Electrifying Extras...........18
news!
Winter 2003 Sandi Rockne Solar for
Schools..........................19
Teacher
http://wattwatchers.utep.edu Southridge Elementary
Lewisville, Texas
1-888-US WATTS
 solar for schools
For Schools Program – Phase II
Texas Solar
Schools will also receive lesson plans addressing
renewable energy topics that teachers can easily
More schools throughout Texas will soon be powered implement into the classroom. Teachers will be provided
by the sun. Thanks to grant funds from the State Energy with training about all the educational components
Conservation Office (SECO) 10 additional systems will provided with the program. And school district facilities

Exploring Electricity and Solar Cooking be installed under the Texas Solar for Schools (TSSP) personnel will receive training about general operations
program. TSSP began in 2001 when SECO launched and maintenance of the system.
the first phase with 11 schools throughout the state. Due All schools have been extremely excited about the

with a Traveling Energy Exploration Station
Have you explored the world of Energy? Well Watt Watchers wants to help
you and your students explore the world of Energy with our Traveling Energy
Exploration Stations. The stations are designed for use in 2-8th grade
classrooms. We currently have 2 stations: Electricity and Solar Cooking.
These stations are available to check out from Watt Watchers at no cost
to you – that is right we have put together a kit that would cost you over
$500 dollars to buy and we are loaning them out to teachers all across
the state for FREE! All you need to do is contact Watt Watchers at 1-
888-928-8326 and we will schedule the box to come to your school for
a two week stay. Call soon the boxes go fast in the Spring!
Attention Teachers in Regions 1 and 11 – Watt Watchers is
working with your Region Service Center and there are stations
housed there for you to check out. Contact Watt Watchers and we
will put you in touch with the person in your region so that you can
check out the station during your energy unit.
to the success of the program, SECO is funding the prospects of the program and the ability to generate their
second phase that began in May 2003. TSSP is being own renewable power for their building. The program
administered by CSG Services, Inc. who oversees the allows for real community involvement as local
technical and educational components of the program. businesses, parents and schools team together to make
solar power a reality.
Schools were asked to submit an application in
response to a request for information (RFI) issued by The first 2 installations will occur in Austin during the week
SECO in May 2003 that was sent to all Texas of October 13, 2003. All the installations will be
independent school districts. Schools were required to completed by December 2003. For more information
identify a local partner to provide a portion of the about the program, please contact Pam Groce with
programmatic costs as cost-share. The cost-share SECO: email: pam.groce@cpa.state.tx.us, Tel: (512)
contribution can be in the form of cash, labor or 463-1889.
Q: How many Presidential
equipment. The cost-share component facilitates the press secretaries does
schools ownership of the system even before the it take to change a
installation occurs. lightbulb?
Participating schools will receive a 1 kilowatt grid-
A: Five: One to deny that
connected photovoltaic (PV) or solar electric system the bulb is burned out,
consisting of 8 Shell solar modules and an SMA inverter. one to clarify the denial
The system will provide a portion of the electricity used (“The bulb is just really
by each school. In addition to the PV system, schools dim”), one to blame the
will also be fitted with a datalogger that monitors the bulb burning out on the
performance of the system. This performance data will previous administration,
be posted to a program website allowing the school to one to blame the bulb
view the energy output of the system in graphical form burning out on
and to download data for analysis in spreadsheet format. Congress, and one to
Maplewood Elementary in Austin ISD – Students singing in
call for a Constitutional
visit www.soltrex.com for more information. front of their 2 kWh solar panels at the ribbon cutting amendment that will
ceremony. prohibit bulbs from
burning out.

“My class has thoroughly enjoyed it...we made use of it when

someone from UT Austin came to observe the class...and
she was impressed with the box too.... I added a few more
activity extensions...I laminated the pages and put them in
and I put some pictures of my class using the box in the “To provide all the
box.... I did not add the puffed cereal or salt and pepper to electricity used in the
entire United States
do the extensions.... but I think they can be used...also the
we would have to
one added using the comb with static electricity can be
install PV modules
done with a balloon just as well.... one of the activities we covering 0.3% of the
could not get to work as it was in the box...but I found an land or an area equal
alternative way to do it in one of the books in the box and to one-fourth the land
it worked so I photocopied the page and put those occupied by
instructions in the box so the next people might have roadways.”
better luck... I really appreciate the use of the box...our
whole school has benefited.... I replaced the balloons National Center for
that we used.... and I had cut wire to do some of the Photovoltaics
experiments and just put it back in .....that way maybe http://www.nrel.gob/
ncpv
the next class won’t have to cut the wire.... any thing
we had to change about an experiment to get it to work
I also made note of in the little boxes... again...thanks so very much....”
Nina Corley
2 Satori School 19
Galveston. Tx.
 Energy Manager News
You’ll get letters... lots of letters.
It is time to clean out your mail box – Watt Watchers is how Energy Managers can work with their students to
going to start sending Texas School Energy Managers help reduce energy waste on their campuses. Energy
a bi-monthly mailing. That’s right, your first packet should Managers can’t be at every campus every day of the
be in your mailbox in February! school year – but students are already there – seeing
doors open while the A/C is on, water leaking in the
Have you heard about the EPA’s Sleep is Good restroom, lights left on in unoccupied rooms. These
program? You may have joined us for an online students are going to become your eyes and ears!
presentation last year, or you may have read about it in
the newspaper – Sleep is Good is EPA’s Computer In the months following you will receive information on
Monitor Power Management program. This great, easy District Energy Policy, Benchmarking your Schools,
Q: How many believable, and FREE program can save your school district Texas School Energy Managers Association and much
competent, “just-right- thousands of dollars. Look for more information on more. We would also like to hear from you, how these
for-the-job” presidential packets are helping you in your job. Is there an area of
Sleep is Good in your February mailing.
candidates does it take interest that you would like us to educate energy
to change a light bulb? managers about – we are here to assist you in your very
Are you wondering what the
other mailings will be about? demanding job.
A: It’s going to be a dark
4 years, isn’t it?
March will be a special FEMP Training
bonus mailing on Energy Training of facility managers and associated contracting
Star HVAC and Roofing. staff plays a vital role in our government’s goal of saving
energy and dollars through energy efficiency, renewable
In April we will send you a energy, and water conservation. FEMP supports that
packet of information on goal by providing training and guidance to help Federal
programs that SECO offers to energy managers become more proficient in energy
help schools cut energy costs management and learn about alternative forms of
and educate your students and financing energy-saving projects.
faculty about energy– like the
Loan Star Program, Energy FEMP offers different trainings, workshops, web-based
Audits, Solar for Schools, and instructional settings and self instructional materials
much more. relating to energy management. Visit the FEMP training
web site listed below for more information.
June’s packet will include
information on District http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/resources/training/
Energy Council – femptraining.html
THE TRANSMISSION LINE
Your School Can Be An Energy Star
According to the ENERGY STAR K-12 Newsletter, the
number of schools that measure energy performance
through the ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool rose to
almost 7,600 in 2003. Over 1800 schools have re-
benchmarked to monitor energy use over time. The total
number of ENERGY STAR labels awarded to top-
performing schools is now at 375. If you want to find out
if your school is a STAR –and scores 75 or over,
ENERGY STAR can provide guidance.
h t t p : / / w w w. e n e r g y s ta r. g o v /
index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12
The Green Book
Office Depot released - The Green Book - the first
catalog of sustainable products available to the office
products industry. But, so far, it is only available to special
business partners. You can’t order a catalog or even
view it on-line. It is a great idea and maybe the trend will
catch on among suppliers. Maybe it will be the regular
catalog one day. And the catalog was printed on
recycled paper for lower environmental impact and
energy use.
The Long Hot Summer
This winter has many thinking we should be concerned
with global cooling. But overall this was another scorcher
for Planet Earth. Global temperatures in 2003 were on
track to be the third warmest in history according to a
press release by the World Meteorological Organization
of the United Nations. The global surface temperature
for all of 2003 is expected to be +0.45°C above the 1961-
90 annual average, according to the records maintained
by Members of the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO). This value makes 2003 the third warmest year
just behind 2002 (+0.48°C). The warmest year remains
1998 (+0.55°C).
likely to be the third warmest in the instrumental record
from 1861 to present. http://www.wmo.ch/
Alliance to Save Energy TV Commercials
These TV ads didn’t air during the SuperBowl but
ASE’s innovative and funny commercials promoting
Energy Star Products would have fit right in. You
have got to see these cool commercials. ‘Energy
Science Fair’ features student entries that are “unique”
in the way they save energy. Students are vying for top
prizes for wild energy-saving experiments that save the
most energy. Definitely not your typical Public Service
Announcement.
W IS RE
The last Alliance TV ad, “ Static Electricity House,” saw N E HE W
T
a family experiment with static electricity to power their
OFF
home. It was judged and voted #2 greatest commercial T
HO
in the world on CBS “World’s Greatest Commercials.”
http://www.ase.org/PSAs/index.htm
Also see the ASE Energy Counter at: http://www.ase.org/
counter_net.htm
to find out how much oil the world uses every second.
Great graphic with fast facts.
The Greenest and the Meanest
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
(ACEEE) publishes the best and worst vehicles every
year. The Greenest Vehicles of 2003 lists the top models
having the highest Green Scores overall. The Meanest
Vehicles for the Environment in 2003 lists the 12 cars
and trucks with this year’s worst Green Scores.
Survey Says!
And for those of us in the middle of the road. Greener
Choices 2003 shows how everyone can buy green by “Decreasing our
highlighting some of the top-scoring gasoline vehicles dependence on
in several segments of the market. And the Best of 2003 foreign oil and gas is

Electrifying extras
lists the greenest models in each vehicle class. Included critical to our national
Calculated separately for both hemispheres, the 2003 are the year’s top-rated subcompact, compact, midsize, security.”
temperatures for the Northern Hemisphere (+0.57°C) and large cars, as well as minivans, vans, pickups, and
and for the Southern Hemisphere (+0.33°C) are both sport utility vehicles. Results:
http://www.greenercars.com/ Strongly Agree 49%
Brain Pop Somewhat agree
37% Somewhat

Operation Cat Drop

www.brainpop.com/science/electricity
In the K-12 arena, BrainPOP movies demystify
Math, English, Science, Health, Technology and
Social Studies topics. Through BrainPOP’s online
subscription, Teachers use movies to enhance
traditional classroom learning and Parents are
given a safe and informative resource for their
children. Watch movies, play games, get facts
and much more on this website – GREAT for
KIDS!!
The Shocking Truth about Electricity
http://library.thinkquest.org/6064/main.html
Want to learn more about electricity?
Great links, research and pictures to help you
learn the SHOCKING truth about Electricity.
The Atoms Family website is a resource that contains
educational activities about energy concepts, the power of
the sun, energy conservation, energy
transformation, electricity and fossil
fuels being presented by famous gothic
characters.
The website is available in
Japanese – http://www.jsf.or.jp/sln/
atoms_J_master/index.html .
Or, English – http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/
18
Disagree 7%
EPA Environmental Kids Strongly Disagree
Club 5% No Opinion 2%
www.epa.gov/kids
This is the U.S. EPA’s
website for kids. Get eaten by geckos, little lizardy critters, and they in turn
ready to explore your “… if we don’t understand how things are
were eaten by cats, so the DDT
environment and learn connected, quite often the cause of problems
built up in the food chain and
about neat things you can is solutions.”
do to protect it. There are
killed the cats. Without the
games, pictures, stories and
Amory Lovins
cats, the rats flourished and
other fun things. multiplied, and soon the
World Health Organization
was threatened by potential
outbreaks of typhus and
In Borneo in the fifties, the sylvatic plague. It was
Dayak people had malaria. The World Health therefore obliged to
Organization had a solution: they would spray DDT all parachute 14,000 live cats
over, which they did. The DDT killed the mosquitoes, into Borneo—”Operation Cat
and the malaria declined; so far, so good. But of course, Drop,” courtesy of the
there were side effects. The roofs of the houses, for British Royal Air
example, started to fall down on people’s heads, Force out of
because the DDT had also killed tiny parasitic wasps, Singapore.
which had previously controlled the thatch-eating
caterpillars, which then proliferated and munched up the Excerpted from
How stuff works thatching. Then the colonial government solved that N a t u r a l
www.howstuffworks.com problem by giving people tin roofs, but folks were driven Capitalism by
Do you know how your refrigerator works? Check
nuts by lack of sleep because of the noise of the tropical Amory Lovins,
out this website and learn how stuff works.
rain on the tin roofs at night. Meanwhile, among other Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken. 3
problems, the DDT-poisoned bugs were quietly being See: www.rmi.org
www:natcap.org
 Lighting Project
Classroom Lighting Audit Project
This project will allow you to determine the savings that
a school would realize if they switched from their old
lighting system to a new, more efficient lighting system.
The lighting project is for classrooms only; the other
rooms/buildings on the campus contain specialty lighting
which may be complex and would require some help from
a lighting specialist.
There are a couple of ways to determine the type of the potential savings if these lights were more efficient.
lighting your school currently has. First, ask the energy The new F32T8 with electronic ballasts use as little as
manager in your district. If that is not a possibility, ask 140W (4 bulbs at 32 watts each plus 7% for ballasts)
the head custodian what type of bulbs are used in the per four-foot, 4 lamp fixture while producing the same
classrooms. Or, look into the lighting fixture yourself and 3050 lumens with a higher color rendering index (CRI-
read the information on the bulb. Be sure to have a 85).
teacher or adult help you with this.
What you will see when you look at the fixtures:
The bulbs will have information
printed on the glass at one end.
For example, you may see
F40T12CW printed on the bulbs.
It sounds complicated but it is
simple – it is just in a shorthand
code.
F stands for fluorescent, 40
represents the wattage of the
bulb, T stands for tubular, 12
represents the diameter of the
tube (in eighths of an inch, or 1-1/
2 inches in this case ) and CW
designates the color temperature of the lamp (Cool
White, in this case). This is the standard bulb found in
many classrooms today, but it is yesterday’s technology
and definitely on its way out. It is the least efficient
choice available but may have a cheaper first cost than
other options. New installations are very likely to have
much higher efficiency components.
Once you determine what type of lighting your school’s
classrooms have, you will need to start calculating the
savings that your school could generate if the lighting
was upgraded to more efficient lighting fixtures. First,
Q: How many spoiled rich
kids does it take to you need to calculate how much it costs to operate the
currently installed lights in the classrooms.
screw in a lightblub?
A: Sigh. Get the maid to Assumptions for the calculations: In a typical Texas
call Daddy in Europe to classroom, there are 9 fixtures with four 4-foot lamps in
see who we pay to do each fixture. This type of fixture requires 192 watts of
things like that for us. electricity (4 tubes at 40 watts plus 20% for ballasts). A
school day is 8 hours long and school is in session 180
days a year.
Electricity cost is $.08 per kWh.
9 fixtures x 192W = 1728 W x 8 hours
x 180 days =
2,488,320 / 1000 W = 2488.32 kWh
(to convert to kilowatt hours)
2488.32 kWh x $0.08 = $199.07
4 $199.07 per typical classroom
Vending Machine
Project
TEXAS
Now that you know how much it costs to operate the
lighting within a typical classroom, find out if the
classrooms in your school are typical with 9 fixtures. If
Soda Machines Slurp Energy!
the classrooms are not typical, plug the number of fixtures Your soda machines are slurping up energy almost as
into the formula to calculate how much it costs to operate fast as students are chug-a-lugging the soda. You can
your school’s classrooms. Then total the operating costs do something about it and Watt Watchers wants to help
for each classroom in your school. you.
Now, using the number of fixtures in your classrooms and Here is a great project for your student group to take on:
the total number of classrooms in your school, calculate survey your school to count the vending machines; find
out how much energy each one uses; calculate the
potential savings; report your findings to your principal,
energy manager, or school board; get them to de-bulb
and add load managers.
“They are bright and shiny and they are Table 2: Percent energy
everywhere. So bright that they light the Savings for energy conservation measures
9 fixtures x 140W = 1260 W x 8 hours hallways of our schools and offices. They light
gas stations, as well as almost every public Energy Conservation
x 180 days = Measure
building. The light is coming from Min Max Min
refrigerators. The doors are closed but the
1,814,400 / 1000 W = 1814.4 kWh lights are still on. These are not your typical Load Manager 22% 50% 33%
(to convert to kilowatt hours) refrigerators. These appliances promise a
Load Manager &
cool, refreshing drink… for a price. We’re Delamping 51% 71% 56%
1814.4 kWh x $0.08 = $145.15 talking about your friendly beverage vending
machine, and the price of your drink is not Delamping (estimated) 27% 34% 29%
what it seems. … The lights help to advertise Q: How many election
$145.15 per typical classroom the products inside. Who pays for this canvassers does it take to
advertising? The person who pays the You can calculate estimated savings but your change a lightbulb?
electric bill. When the machine is in our presentation will be more convincing if you can show
Use the data you have collected in the calculations of A: None. They just go round
schools…you’re the one paying the bill how much energy soda machines in your school are telling everyone that it’s
efficient and inefficient lighting fixtures to determine how through your taxes.” (Classic Waste, Uh-Huh,
using. It will be even better if you can test one machine time for a change but the
much pollution you have prevented. (Hint: 14.9 gallons 1993)
with the lights disconnected and the load manager only way this can come
of gas saved per 200kWh, 19.564 pounds of CO2 per
installed to prove what can be saved. Watt Watchers about is if everyone votes
gallon of gas, 1.46 pounds CO2 per kWh.)
According to a report from a U.S. national laboratory, has an EnergyMiser (load manager) and line loggers for “New lightbulb.”
disconnecting the light bulbs that light up the giant you can borrow to complete your project. If you would
Use the information that you have collected and make a
advertisement on the front of a soda machine and like to teach your soda machines to sip energy instead
presentation to the principal and/or school board about
connecting the machine to an occupancy sensor (load of slurping away please contact Watt Watchers or your
the savings that your school could acquire by doing a
manager) to turn it off when no one is around can cut district energy manager to get more information.
lighting upgrade.
energy use by 56%. They calculated savings of up to
$635 per machine per year for their facility! (NREL, 2003) Table 3: Total annual energy and demand cost
The drinks stay cold and are always ready for the next savings
customer but energy use is greatly reduced — especially
nights and weekends when nobody is around.
Table 1: Vending Machine #1 Internal Case kWh cost savings Demand Cost Savings Total Energy Cost Savings
Temperature Data (Fº) Load Manager $239 $99 $338
Load Manager &
Lights off $407 $228 $635
Case Average Maximum Minimum
Lights off $212 $157 $369
With Load
Manager 35.5 32.8 76.0
Without Load
36.6 32.8 77.6 References:
Manager Analysis of NREL Cold-Drink Vending Machines for
Energy Savings, M. Deru, P.Torcellini, K. Bottom, and
The NREL data is based on a full year, your savings may R. Ault, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, June
not be this high if your school district unplugs soda 2003, NREL/TP-550-34008.
machines during the summer. Even a half or a third of
those savings would be welcome news to administrators. “Classic Waste, Uh-Huh” M.Cormier and S. Cook,
Think how many soda machines there are in all the Energy Ideas Magazine, 1993.
schools in your district.
Vending Miser-www.bayviewtech.com
17
 Watt Watcher
Feeder Schools
Attention High School Watt Watchers!
We are often asked by high school Watt Watchers what
to do after they have the Watt Watchers program
implemented in their school, and it is running smoothly.
Our answer is: Don’t stop there! There are elementary
and middle schools associated with your high school,
often referred to as “feeder schools.” The students at
feeder schools will eventually attend your high school.
They are just waiting for you to share your ideas. This is
an opportunity to ensure that your school’s energy-
saving tradition will be continued for generations to
come. Plus, the elementary and junior high kids love it
when the cool high school students come to visit their
classrooms.
“If we are serious
about conservation,
The best way to keep your program going after you have
then we are going to
graduated is to train the students who will be attending
have to quit thinking
your high school when you are gone. Find out which
about our work as a
feeder schools already have Watt Watchers programs.
sequence of
You can inspire students to bring the tradition with them
specialized and
temporary responses
into high school. Find out which feeder schools do not
to a sequence of yet have a Watt Watchers program. You can inspire
specialized and students to start one in their school and bring the
temporary tradition with them into high school. It is simpler than
emergencies. We will studying for a final exam.
have to recognize
that our work is All you have to do is, first, find a teacher who is interested
economic. We are
in sponsoring the program at each feeder school; and
going to have to
second, call Watt Watchers for a kit for that school.
come up with
Would your 5th grade teacher make a great Watt
competent, practical
Watchers Sponsor? Once you have made that contact,
at-home answers to
schedule a date for you and other high school Watt
the humblest human
questions: How Watchers to visit and share your experiences as Watt
should we live? How Watchers, if they have an active program; or, introduce
should we keep the program to the younger students at the feeder school.
house? How should Interview the younger Watt Watchers and send us an
we provide ourselves article about what you learned from each other. Or, help
with food, clothing,
them get their program off the ground by taking them on
shelter, heat, light,
their first Watt Watchers Patrol. Give them some
learning, amusement,
samples of tickets that you have made. Do you
rest. How, in short,
remember your first patrol? Do you remember teachers’
ought we to use the
reactions to getting their first “bad” tickets and “thank
world?”
Wendell Berry
you” tickets? Inspire the students to generate original
ideas, and help them develop a plan to make their
program a success.
It is really that easy. If you would like a more formal
presentation to give to the class or a group of teachers
at those feeder schools – check out your Watt Watchers
CD-ROM—there are PowerPoint Presentations on that
CD that will assist you.
When “feeder schools” are encouraged in this way it
affects the whole district. Not only have you helped save
thousands of dollars at your school, but you have helped
the district cut down energy costs and reduce pollution
in your community. And when you go off to college or to
the workplace, you will surely find many new opportunities
to continue that energy-saving tradition.
For more information on getting involved with your feeder
schools, please contact Watt Watchers of Texas at 1-
888-US WATTS or 1-888-WATTEAM. We would love
to assist you.
Expanding the Tradition
We suggest that high school Watt Watchers
visit feeder schools to mentor the younger Watt
Watchers on a regular basis, not just as
graduation approaches. Watt Watchers offers
a number of additional components that can be
presented. You can use the Knowledge is
Power Curriculum Supplement to assist you in
teaching them about energy efficiency – there
is a great game in the Knowledge is Power
supplement called the “Pay Me Game.” It is a
fun and easy way to mentor students in grade-
and middle schools.
You can also let the teachers in your feeder
schools know about our Traveling Energy
Exploration Stations. These stations can be set
up as learning/extension centers in the
classroom when they are teaching about
energy.
Power Management
Project
Imagine a way for Steps to implement:
the students to
1. Call Watt Watchers if you have any questions about
help save $15-
the program, for ideas on approaching district
$20 for each personnel, etc. Watt Watchers has supporting
computer monitor documentation, information, and tips on how to
in a school approach your school district.
district. Three
different student 2. Get support of your sponsor
groups in In seeking support from your sponsor, first –
different school explain the project and the free support offered
districts have by Watt Watchers and the focus of your
implemented committee. Explain that your committee needs
computer monitor his or her help when talking with the principal,
power getting a meeting with the energy manager (if
management in applicable), and meeting with the Information
their school Technology (IT) department.
An Energy Savvy
districts. Taft ISD,
3. Get support from your principal Consumer replaced all
Duncanville ISD,
With the help of your sponsor, set a meeting with the windows in her
and LaVernia house. She had
your school’s principal so he or she has a clear
ISD student expensive, double-
understanding of what your committee is trying
groups worked to accomplish for the school district. Remember
insulated energy
efficient windows put
with their to explain that the program is free, is technically
in. Twelve months later
sponsors, supported, many other school districts in Texas
she gets a call from the
principal and district information technology staff have implemented the program with no trouble contractor, complaining
members to put computer monitors to sleep in their at all, how much money can be saved for the that the work has been
school districts. Each school district implemented school district and how much pollution can be done for a year and she
has failed to pay for the
power management on 1,000 computer monitors and prevented for your community.
work done. The
is savings approximately $17,000 each year. The total
4. Meet with the district energy manager (if there is one consumer replies, “The
savings from these three districts is $51,000 per year! salesman who sold me
on staff)
those told me that in
With the help of your sponsor, and the support
You too can save money for your school district, no one year they would
of your principal, set a meeting with the energy pay for themselves”.
matter how large or small your school district is – you
manager. Explain the same information to your
have to develop a plan, and then put the plan into action.
energy manager that you explained to your http://www.uwsp.edu/
Watt Watchers is here to help you with your plan. cnr/wcee/keep/
principal. Your energy manager will see the need
DiscussionPages/
to reduce energy usage within your school
The Plan index2.html
district – hence the title energy manager.
However, focus on the simplicity of implementing
Put together a committee within your student group. 4-
the program. The program is free, it takes little
5 students
IT time, it is technically supported, and it can be
controlled through the network so the district IT
Ensure that each committee member understands the staff does not have to worry about students
concept behind computer monitor power management, putting anything on the computers.
its potential savings for the district, and the steps needed
5. Meet with the Information Technology staff
to implement the project.
Focus on the simplicity of implementing the
Refer to: http://www.wattwatchers.utep.edu/pages/
program. The program is free, it takes little IT
PowerManagement.htm and your Watt Watchers CD-
ROM for additional information on computer monitor time, it is technically supported, and it can be
power management. controlled through the network so the district
information technology staff does not have to
worry about students putting anything
Finally, make sure that each committee member has a
on the computers and/or
clear focus statement (see the sleeping monitor) to
compromising the security of the
represent the goal of the committee when meeting with
network.
key district personnel while gaining support for your
project.

Concept: Computer monitor power management Focus of your committee –

enables your computer to go into a low power setting reduce energy usage and save
during periods of inactivity. More specifically, the EPA money for the school district,
recommends that a monitor go to SLEEP after ten with the help of information
minutes of inactivity to ensure a greater energy savings. technology staff, by putting
This, in turn, saves energy, reduces pollution and saves computer monitors to sleep
money for the schools within your district. A standard while idle for more than ten
Many enthusiastic
computer monitor (the big monitor, not the flat LCD minutes by using a
young students like
screen) uses 60-90 Watts. Once a monitor is put to FREE program
these would love to
SLEEP, it consumes between 2 and 10 Watts. This offered by the
have high school
savings is equal to approximately 200 kWh or between Environmental
mentors help them
$15 - $20 (depending upon the cost per kilowatt-hour Protection Agency
with energy projects
in your area) per monitor per year in savings. (EPA).
16 5
Grade Level: 3 to 6
Lesson Overview:
Students will use play money
to understand the dollar cost
of their energy habits.
Subjects: Math, Social
Studies, Science
Time: 20-30 minutes
Vocabulary: utility, save,
spend
TEKS:
Math: 3rd grade - 3.1B,C;
3.15A,D; 4th grade - 4.1A;
4.3A; 4.15B; 5th grade -
5.1A;5.3A; 6th grade - 6.1C;
6.11A,B
Social Studies: 3rd grade -
3.6A,B; 3.8B,C; 4th grade -
4.13C; 4.14A; 5th grade -
5.13A,B; 5.14E; 6th grade -
6.9A,B
Science: 3rd grade -
3.3A,B,C; 4th grade -
4.3A,B,C; 5th grade -
5.3A,B,C; 6th grade -
6.3A,B,C
TAKS:
Math: 3rd -6th grades - Obj.
1,6
Social Studies: 3rd - 6th
grades - Obj. 3
Science: 3rd - 6th grades -
Obj. 1
Materials
2 envelopes, 1 marked “me”
and 1 marked “utility”
Play energy money (See
master sheet) $100 per
student
One copy of “The Pay Me
Game Questions”
Procedure
1. Cut out the money
sheets. Each student
should have $100 made up of
20 $1’s, 10 $5’s, and 3
$10’s. A student can put the
money into piles prior to
starting the activity.
2. Give each student one:
“me” envelope and one
“utility” envelope.
3. Tell students that they
have just gotten paid $100,
and whatever they and their
family don’t spend on energy
at home, they can use to
buy things they want. Read
each question to the group.
Depending on their answer,
the students will put the
required amount of money in
either their “me” envelope or
in their “utility” envelope. If a
student runs out of money
before the end of the game
he may borrow from his “me”
envelope to pay the “utility
bill.”
4. At the end of the game,
count the money in each
envelope to show the stu-
dents how much their
energy habits are costing
them. Discuss how students
could get more in their “me”
envelopes.
6 15
THE PAY ME GAME
Question: Do you have more than
Question: Do you always turn off the lights
every time you leave a room?
Yes: pay ME $5
No: pay UTILITY $5
(An average electric bill for lights alone is
$9 a month.)
Question: Are your clothes dried in a
clothes dryer?
Yes: pay UTILITY $13
No: pay ME $13
(It costs about 80 cents an hour to operate.
This can get very expensive after a few
loads of clothes. Cleaning the filters after
each load is dried and drying one load after
another so the drum doesn’t have to be
reheated for each load will save
money.)
Question: Do you sleep in a waterbed?
Yes: Pay UTILITY $20
(Keep the waterbed below 85 degrees
and keep the mattress covered at all
times to save money. There are special
electric blankets that you can put on top
of your water bed which keeps you warm
without having to heat up all the water.
These electric blankets can save a lot of
money.)
Question: In the summer are the drapes
in your home closed to keep out the
heat?
Yes: Pay ME $10
No: pay UTILITY $5
(Closing drapes and putting up
shades keeps the sun and warm air
from getting into your house, which
keeps your house much cooler.
Students will probably be familiar with
how light coming through a window can heat
up a car on a hot day. A house with direct
sunlight coming in heats up the same
way.)
Question: Do you use a dishwasher to
wash your dishes, without opening the
door to dry the dishes?
Yes: pay UTILITY $5
No: pay ME $3
(If you turn the drying cycle off and open
the door to let the dishes dry you can pay
yourself $2.)
one refrigerator or freezer at
your house?
Yes: pay utility $12 for a
second refrigerator or
freezer
(Each extra refrigerator
costs about $12 a month;
that’s $144 a year)
Question: Is your refrigerator
opened more than 6 times a
day?
Yes: pay UTILITY $2 for each
person who opens the door
No: pay ME $5
(It costs about 3 cents every
time the door is opened.)
Question: Do you use a hair
dryer?
Yes: pay UTILITY $3
No: pay ME $3
(In costs about 8 cents every
time you use a hair dryer.)
Question: Do you have an
electric blanket?
Yes: pay Utility envelope $2
No: pay your me envelope $2
(Electric blankets cost about 8 cents
a night or $2.40 a month per person.
Using warm pajamas and blankets
saves the most energy. But if your
room is still too cold at night it
costs less to use an electric
blanket than it is to heat up
the whole room.)
Question: Have your parents
ever heated the kitchen with
the stove or oven?
Yes: pay Utility $10
No: pay me envelope $10
(If you ever see someone
doing this you should tell
them that is dangerous,
expensive and doesn’t
work very well.)
Question: Do you have
air conditioning for your
entire house?
Yes: pay Utility $45
(A midsize conditioner costs
about 16 cents an hour to
operate. You can save money on
air conditioning if you keep windows
and doors closed during the heat
of the day. At night you can turn off
the air conditioner, open the doors
and windows and turn on fans
to get cool outdoor air into the
house. Be sure to close the
house back up before it gets
warm the following day.)
Question: Do you have a
window air conditioner for
one room?
Yes: pay Utility $20
No: pay ME $20
(Cooling only one room or
area of your house costs
much less than cooling the
entire house. Keep the
doors closed to unused
rooms.
Continued on page 7
Program News
By: Patti Fennessey,
Lewisville Independent School District
Lewisville Independent School District’s (LISD) Watt
Watchers Program is up and running. After circulating a
survey in December the LISD Maintenance
Department’s newly-formed Energy and Utilities
Operations Group has a better understanding of the
schools’ use of the Watt Watchers program.
The majority of our schools using the Watt Watchers
program requested energy audits for their campuses.
The energy audits are conducted throughout the district
on a weekly basis. The team is going to be busy
conducting the audits in the more than fifty campuses at
LISD. The audits, conducted after 6:00p.m., are
coordinated as to limit interference with any activities
held in the buildings that particular evening. The audits
are a “snapshot” of the lighting, computers and any other
electrical appliances left on after school hours.
When the data of the audits are compiled, it provides
the school administrator and LISD WATTTEAM with a
better understanding of the energy waste incurred during
after hours. The kilowatt per item, waste usage,
miscellaneous waste usage, waste usage cost per day
and year, and miscellaneous waste cost per day and
year are included in the audit. The use per day is based
on a 10-hour day with any usage from electrical items
used more than 10 hours calculated as waste usage.
The group performing the audits has also been able to
inspect for fire hazards and general maintenance needs
at the same time. One significant finding of the audit
team is that many rooms that have Watt Watchers thank
you tickets on the doors are usually the easiest to audit. enjoying every minute of it.
In those rooms the lights, television, and computers are
usually turned off. The energy audits are the best * Fritz Yoder is the manager of the newly formed LISD
barometer for pinpointing areas of concern.
The Audit Summaries are shared with the administrator
of the campus and then the WATTEAM. When the
students look at the number
of computers or lights left on
it does not seem to affect
them until they look at the
final dollar figure. Then their
eyes light up and you can tell
they are strategizing on how
to save that money for their
school.
The students promoting
energy awareness and
turning off the lights are what
this program is all about. The Watt Watchers teams are
by far the keys to continued success.
Using the Watt Watchers format provides the schools
with a base to begin their programs. Getting started with
any new program is always the most difficult part. Watt
Watchers has done the hard part. Now let the fun begin!
It is exciting to see all of the creative ways the
schools use the program. Every school is
different therefore; every approach is based
on what will work for that particular school.
Some schools are participating through their
Student Council members; one school utilizes
their Environmental Club with students, getting
involved and handing out tickets. A common
way to implement the Watt Watchers program
is to have a, teacher organize the program
for their school and his or her students conduct Q: How many tight wads
the daily patrols. A unique way to implement does it take to change a
the Watt Watchers program is displayed at compact fluorescent light
another school in LISD; an energy watcher for bulb?
each classroom wears a special button and
A: Two. One to change it,
is responsible for turning off the lights when
and one to complain that
the class leaves the room. It all goes to show even after all these techni-
that it does not matter how you do the cal advances, a light bulb
program, as long as you do it - it will work. still only uses 75% less
energy and only lasts 10
Input from teachers and their patrols to the district states times longer than and
that the best part of the program is how easy it is to get incandescent bulb.
started. Teachers creative and unique approaches all
strive for that same finish line: to educate children, to
involve those children in
their community (their
class or school), and to
save some watts at the
same time. The teachers
and students at LISD are
up to the challenge of
saving energy.
The teachers have included different aspects of the
program into their curriculum. Schools are using ticket
and thank you text as part of their English classes. Graphs,
wattage measured, and money saved all fit into math
class. Science classes study alternative energy sources Shown in the photos
and the effect each has on our environment. Art classes are Patti Fennessey
are helping with poster designs, bulletin board outlays, and Larry Worley
and even switch plate cover designs. LISD is definitely who are members of
up and running with the Watt Watchers program, and Lewisville ISDs
Energy and Utilities
Operations Group.
Patti and Larry spent
Energy and Utility Operations Group.
the day talking with
students from
Southridge Elemen-
tary about the impor-
tance of saving
energy for their
school.
 Real World Projects
Contd. from pg. 6
Question: Do you have an electric toothbrush?
Question: Do you take baths in the bath tub?
Yes: pay UTILITY $1
Yes: pay Utility $6
(A bath takes at least 15 gallons of hot water, that’s at least Question: Do you have a swimming pool?
10 cents per bath. In a month that’s $3 per person) Yes: pay UTILITY $20
Continued from page 1: Real Projects (Pools are expensive to operate, especially if you heat them.
Question: Do you take showers that are less than 5 minutes
The pool filter alone costs about 10 cents an hour to operate.)
long?
Let’s run through an example. Yes: pay ME $5 Question: Do you have an electric clock?
(A shower that is less than 5 minutes will use less than 6 Yes: pay UTILITY $1
A committee within a student organization realizes that there is so much energy waste in their school. cents of hot water.) No: pay ME $1
Something needs to be done that will help students and teachers understand how much energy waste there is (A wind-up clock doesn’t use electricity.)
on their school’s campus – but how? Some ideas are brought to the discussion, including: Question: How many members of your family take showers
that are more than 5 minutes long? Question: Do you use an electric can opener?
Yes: pay Utility $5 for each person in your family who does Yes: pay UTILITY $1
· one of the members heard of another school doing energy bracelets that the students wore to remind
this. No: pay ME $1
them to be efficient with energy; (A good hand-operated opener works well for most people.)
· another student read an article about how much energy a computer monitor consumed and that with all Question: Does your freezer have an ice maker?
the computers their campus had, maybe they could develop stickers to put on the computer monitors Yes: pay ME $3 Question: Do you use a portable electric heater in the
asking people to turn off the monitors when not in use; (It is cheaper to make ice cubes with ice trays in your winter? “We are entering the
· another student heard of a school having a day when the student organization checked the tire pressure freezer.) Yes: pay Utility $10 century of the
for cars in the school because proper air pressure in tires increases fuel efficiency and reduces No: pay ME $30 environment, whether
Question: Do you listen to the radio or watch a VCR?
(In general, portable heaters are one of the least efficient we want to or not. In
pollution; Yes: pay UTILITY $2
heating sources. If you’re the only one that is cold, consider this century everyone
· another suggestion was having a cold lunch day because that would mean that the kitchen would not No: pay ME $1
puttin on an extra sweater or socks instead of using the who considers
have to be in use. (It costs the average household about $2.30 a month to use
heater to warm up your room.) himself a realist will
these.)
be forced to justify his
Let’s take a closer look at the four suggestions: Question: Do behavior in light of the
you play video contribution it made
games? CONCLUSION: toward the
Fact Yes: pay UTILITY preservation of the
Energy = Pollution $4 Add the money in each envelope; don’t count environment.”
Producing and using No: pay ME $2 any money that is in your hand. Ask: Who has
energy is the leading (Even though most the most money in their “ME” envelope. Who Ernst von
cause of most forms video games are has the most money in their “UTILITY” Weizsacker
of pollution, including electronic and use a small envelope? Discuss how students could get
smog, acid rain, amount of electricity, more in their “ME” envelope. (Use the information
greenhouse gas, and usually they are played for provided with the questions.)
nuclear waste. many hours and the
electricity adds If this was real money, and students could get
up.) any money that they could save, what would they
do?

Lapel Pin Time is Here!

LAPEL PIN TIME IS HERE!

It is time for Watt Watchers to send out lapel

pins again! Is this your 5th year doing Watt
Watchers? If so, you will soon receive a Watt
Watchers of Texas Lapel Pin! Watt Watchers
would not be the popular program it is today
without the support of the wonderful
Teachers, Energy Managers and School
Administrators that sponsor the program in
their schools! Help us determine if you are
meal. a lapel pin recipient this year – complete
the form below and fax it to us so that we

!
may update our records and send you your

y
5 year pin. Pins will be mailed out in April

a
and a list of recipients will be in the Spring

d
Watt Watchers of Texas issue of Watts News.

o
1-888-US WATTS (1-888-879-2887)

T
P.O.Box 68660, El Paso, Texas 79968 Fax: 1-888-879-2887 Information Update Form
e-mail: watts@utep.edu

l
Please fax to Watt Watchers of Texas

l
http://wattwatchers.utep.edu
San Antonio Office 210-682-3284

o
Your Name: _________________________________________________

r
Name:

En
School Name: _______________________________________________
School Address: _____________________________________________
School:
(Free kit will be shipped to your school / Street address preferred) District:
City: ______________________ Zip: _____ - ____ County: ______ Email Address:
School Phone: ( ) ____ - ______ School Fax: ( ) ____ - ______
Phone:
Email Address: ______________________________________________
Name of School District: ______________________________________ Fax:
14 Date: _________ WNT 2003 Year you joined Watt Watchers: 7
 Conservation or ...? Fun and Easy Projects
Transportation
There is a subtle difference between energy efficiency comfort and conservation are completely compatible! Auto Tire Pressure Project •”Six percent of light trucks (sport utility vehicles, cans
and energy conservation yet many people use the terms Energy conservation usually means being more careful America is driving around on under-inflated tires, and pickup trucks) are driven with all four of their tires
interchangeably. And, even worse, many people have in the way we use energy or improving our habits. Each according to a recent survey. Under-inflated tires lower under-inflated by 8 or more psi, compared with 3 percent
the wrong idea about both. People think that efficiency of us needs energy each day to maintain our lives. gas mileage, wasting millions of dollars each year. of passenger cars. Ten percent of light trucks are driven
is very complicated or expensive and think that However, the way in which people use energy is another with three or more tires under-inflated by 8 or more psi,
Under-inflated tires are also a major safety hazard.
conservation means being uncomfortable. Wrong and story. Conserving energy is really quite simple. You can compared with 6 percent of passenger cars. Twenty
Thousands of accidents each year may be caused by
wrong again. turn off lights when you leave the room, drive the speed percent of light trucks have two or more tires under -
poor handling due to under inflated tires.
limit to get better mileage, recycle, do awareness inflated by 8 or more psi, compared with 13 percent of
Energy efficiency is using your energy projects that share energy efficiency facts — the list is passenger cars.
So, when was the last time you checked your tire
wisely. Energy efficiency usually means nearly endless. And, you never need to suffer. NHTSA estimates that 49 to 79 deaths and 6,585
pressure?
being smarter in the Send a tire pressure gauge (about $2 at an auto to 10,635 injuries could be prevented annually if all
way we use energy. One thing to remember is that vehicles were equipped with tire pressure monitoring
parts store or Wal-Mart/K-Mart) home with your students
For the most part, when doing a project about energy systems. In addition, vehicle owners would benefit from
if their parents do not have one. Include a drawing of a
people are efficient
with the money they To Conserve efficiency, we don’t want people to
get the wrong idea about what it
means to be efficient or conserve
car showing each tire so they can record the pressures
for each tire. Total the number of under-inflated tires for
better vehicle handling, increased tire life and better fuel
economy.”
spend when buying Light Switch Covers
or be Efficient...
the class.
groceries, clothing energy. For example, when we 1. This is a great project to help teachers and students
Alternative: Have the class survey the school
and vehicles. A want people to be energy-smart remember to turn their lights off when they leave the class-
parking lot. Give out ribbons to drivers – if they want
when using a computer, we would
That is
person should be just their tire pressures checked they put the ribbon on their room. It is also a very easy project to do.
as efficient in the way not tell the person to go without the 2. First start off by measuring different light switch plates
dash or rearview mirrors. The class then checks all the
he or she spends computer for a day — we would in your school. You can make a cover that covers the
marked cars in the lot and leaves a note card under the

the Question
energy. Yes, spend simply show the person how to put whole light switch and just has an opening for the switch
windshield wiper with the pressures for each tire
energy. Energy is not the computer monitor to sleep and or you can make a border for the outside of the cover
recorded.
free, at least not the explain the savings gained by plate, either way they are neat.
For upper grades or as a student group project
type used in most of doing so. This is the same for all 3. Then you make a pattern for the covers. You can
you may provide an option to go to the “Air Station” you
the buildings and projects; the message is not to go decorate them with tips on conserving energy or a re-
set up after school to get under-inflated tires pumped
homes in America. When we burn coal, it is gone. We without, simply to conserve what you have –by being minder about turning off the lights to help save energy
up. (This will require some air compressors, hose, etc.)
can’t recycle coal and use it again – what’s done is done efficient. and money for the school district.
Or this could be coordinated with a nearby service station
and all that is left over is the pollution we leave behind. that would permit students to help people get their tires 4. Once they are decorated you can run them off on
We have renewable energy sources, such as solar Be smart and be careful — that is just good advice — cardstock or you can laminate them so they hold up bet-
inflated.
power, wind power, hydropower, and biomass. However, whether talking about energy or life in general. Pass ter. Take them to a student council meeting and let your
Handing out driving tips, recommended
according to the Energy Information Administration, in this advice along to everyone you possibly can. Even in members cut them out and help deliver them with a note
maintenance tips and mile per gallon calculators at the
2002 only 6 percent of our energy usage in the United the year 2004, many people are confused about energy about turning off your lights. If you would like informa-
same time is a good idea.
States was from renewable sources. efficiency and conservation. Please do tion and tips on energy savings you can contact the Watt
projects that help them realize — Watchers of Texas Program at 1.888.USWATTS or
Walking, the Alternative
Energy efficiency is as simple as adopting better reducing our energy use can be fun, 1.888.WATTEAM and we would be glad to provide you
Use a pedometer to measure the distance that a
technology by screwing in a compact fluorescent easy, low-cost, and never with any additional information that we may have.
student, the teacher, the principal, or other individual
light bulb (CFL). True, CFLs cost more to buy needs to involve suffering
walks in a single day or week. As a nation, we are
but they cut energy use by 75% and pay for – just be smart and Charting Your Schools Energy Use
sedentary. Couch Potato syndrome is very widespread.
themselves many times over. They are “smart” be careful. 1. Contact your Energy Manager/Facilities Director to
Walking can be an enjoyable and healthy transportation
bulbs and cut pollution, too. alternative to driving in an automobile. A pedometer can get copies of the energy bills for your school from last
be purchased at a Sporting Goods store for around $10. year. Ask them to send you a copy of the energy bill
To put it simply, society needs to do more to Several individuals can be charted to compare walking each month so that you can chart the energy use for your
cut back the generation of pollution. Some distances. Walking can be compared to driving totals campus while you are doing energy projects.
people shiver at the thought of cutting back on energy; gathered in other activities. Pump up your sports shoes 2. Locate a place in your school that is visible to
some envision classrooms in the dark, students and AND your tires! everyone (main entrance, cafeteria, main hallway, etc…).
“One statistic makes teachers bundled in layers of clothing in the winter and This is where you are going to hang your Energy Use
clear the demand sweating profusely in the spring and summer months. Chart.
placed on the earth Reducing energy usage does not mean going without. 3. On a large piece of poster paper/butcher paper chart
by our last years energy use by month – leave room on the chart
economic system: Some people think of energy conservation as having to to add each month this year so that everyone can see
every day the be uncomfortable or suffer to save energy. The truth is: the savings that are taking place by doing simple energy
worldwide economy projects on your campus like Watt Watchers, Sleep is Q: How many Presidential
burns an amount of Good, District Energy Council, etc… candidates does it take
energy the planet 4. If you have a month where the energy costs go up to change a lightbulb?
required 10,000 days
determine why the energy usage is up for that month
to create. Or, put
another way,
and post it for everyone to see. For example there could A: None. Quote: “I resent
have been a different weather pattern that month, you that question. I’ve
27 years worth of
did not patrol for Watt Watchers as much, a building was answered it before, and
stored solar energy is
added on to the school, there are many ways that energy I think the media are
burned and released
usage can change lets just make it energy that is being keeping this thing alive. I
by
think the American
utilities, cars, houses, used and not wasted.
people are tired of light
factories, and farms
bulb jokes.”
every 24 hours.”

-Paul Hawken, THE Interesting Facts:

• One out of every three light trucks and one out of every
ECOLOGY OF
fours cars now on the road has a tire that’s significantly
COMMERCE
under-inflated according to a recent NHSTA survey.
• You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3
percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper
pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage
by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four
8 tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Do you have Fun and Easy Projects that you would
like to share with other schools?
If so please send them to Watt Watchers:
Email to watts@utep.edu or Fax to 1-888-USWATTS
Project ideas received will be included in the Knowl-
edge is Power Student Project Handbook, and you
will be credited. 13
http://wattwatchers.utep.edu 1-888-US WATTS