Energy Efficiency Education Program continues at area schools

Lincoln Schneider didn’t just show up to a recent presentation about Energy Efficiency by Mississippi Power.

He’s now living it.

“Before I used to leave the fan on in my room,” said Schneider, a fifth-grader at Jeff Davis Elementary School in Biloxi. “Now I know how much of an impact it has on my family’s power bill. Now I harass my older brother about turning off the fan in his room.”

Schneider, his fifth-grade classmates, and the fourth-graders at Jeff Davis, took a recent presentation by company Energy Efficiency Education Representative Tamara Proctor to heart.

“We did six of these presentations at the end of last year,” said Proctor, “and we’re scheduled to visit at least nine more schools over the next two months. The kids catch on fast to learning how to help their family save on electric bills.”

The students took home energy efficiency kits including several CFL bulbs, an LED nightlight, a shower timer, a thermometer and temperature gage, and a questionnaire on their family’s energy habits. They came back with 100 percent participation for the event.

“We plan to split the money between the fourth and fifth grade,” said Pheon Chatman, fifth-grade teacher at Jeff Davis who spearheaded a drive that helped earn the $500 grant ($250 for each grade). “Fourth grade will be using the money to purchase headphones for the students to use in the classroom,” Chatman added. “Fifth grade is planning to use the funds for an educational field trip to learn about animals and their habitats. At home, I used energy saving tips and cut down my power bill by $50.”

Andrew Wake, another Jeff Davis fifth-grader, is also engaged in helping his family save on energy.

“I used to keep the water running when I brushed my teeth,” said Wake. “Now I turn it off while I’m brushing, and I turn off the TV and the lights when I leave the room.”

Proctor said she’ll be holding more Energy Efficiency Program events across the Mississippi Power service territory throughout the remainder of the school year.

For information and energy efficiency tips, click here.