Alegeria Ecokids present their energy saving tips

Beginning in the winter months, when energy demands were high, we launched our energy saving campaign. We set up an EcoKids Energy Zone in the main corridor of the building where we displayed energy saving tips. In February, the members of our EcoKids Club each completed a personal assessment of their carbon footprint. We found that some of the results were quite startling! This made us want to find out about the energy habits of the people on our tour. We began by surveying the performers on their energy use habits. Once results were tallied, students researched and created tips for reducing energy use targeting those specific habits. We prepared posters and information packets for the Energy Zone and cafeteria that focused on transportation, home energy use and recycling. Every week, we updated the packets and new information was provided.

In preparation for Earth Day, we held a “Lights Out” campaign. This was where we really worked hard to reduce our energy use at school. Each day, at the end of classes, we went around to all the computers to see if they were shut off. The first day, only one was shut off. To reward those that turned off their computers, we placed stickers on the monitors that said, “Thanks, you gave me a rest!” or “Good job, you saved energy”. For every computer that was left on, an orange sticker was placed that said “I’m tired” or “You wasted energy”. By the end of the week over one third of the staff turned off their computers after they finished using them. We even arranged for our computer technician to implement an automatic computer shutdown procedure. He also announced that all printers would begin to have double-sided printing as the default setting. This printing initiative was taken on by all of the touring shows and is currently being implemented as a company policy.

Finally, our Earth Day activities included making recycled paper using the EcoKids website recipe, wearing a blue or green shirt to school and watching “An Inconvenient Truth”. Stickers were distributed to any staff members who were also wearing green or blue in order to promote Earth Day awareness.

Patricia Elliott