Green Teams Saving Local Schools Money

This ran on Fox 13...

Green Teams Saving Local Schools Money

A program to make southern schools more energy efficient is being tested out in Memphis City and Shelby County Schools.

Some "Green Team" members at Brewster Elementary School have been making some improvements in the building's energy efficiency. So far, the school is saving 5 1/2 percent on its MLGW bill.

The "Green Team" has done some experiments and recorded their findings. They've made some improvements, and now they're excited about telling others how to do their part in the energy crisis.

"Mom! Dad! Today I learned in school we're running out of energy," says Brewster 4th Grader Jimmy Donlon.

The enthusiasm comes from hands on learning about energy. The green team detects drafts in the window that need to be sealed, use a temperature gun, watt meter and light meter to detect efficiency and potential savings.

"If someone comes home with a light bill they would want to have that much money saved on their light bill," says Brewster 4th Grader Briana Davis.

And when you have a $28 million annual light bill like Memphis City Schools, any savings will help. The kids at Brewster have inspired MCS to soon take the Green School Program district wide.

"We have seen, before adjustments to the baseline, a five and a half adjustment to changing their habits and creating better ones," says Anthony Wright with Memphis City Schools.

The program is funded by TVA and administered through "The Alliance to Save Energy." The program aims to use science and technology to educate the kids on electricity efficiency.

"A lot of times I think they forget that they're learning because it is a lot of fun," says Melani Meacham with The Green Schools Program. "I try to encourage them to use the scientific data and that their best argument to explain to people why we need to make change."

The kids bring that knowledge from the school into their homes and communities.

"I tried convincing my mom to use CFL light bulbs," says Briana.

"We've learned all types of things like what types of energy there are, how to save energy, some simple ways to save energy and why we need to save energy," says Jimmy.

When the Green Team saves its school money on the MLGW bill, 20 percent is re-invested back into the school.