Jan. 25, 2008 - Following the success of the first-ever student Energy Patrol at Forts Ferry, the program is set to expand to Loudonville and Southgate elementary schools in February.

Director of Custodial Services Chris Demetreus, who initiated the program in October with the help of Forts Ferry Principal Candace Lobdell, eventually hopes to launch the program at all of the district’s elementary schools.

The energy saving program is working according to Demetreus. In November, Forts Ferry reported a 20 percent decrease in electricity from the prior year. More data needs to be collected and calculated before district officials
will be able to detail the exact cost savings.

The program not only provides significant savings to the district, but also helps students learn about the importance of conserving energy, leadership skills and responsibility.

Third graders Lia McNulty, Prachi Mishra and Blake Clickner, along with fifth graders Lisa Kentris, Lauren Wolford and Nicole Luibrand have really taken to their roles.

“We like catching people,” said Mishra.

With a clipboard, badge and reminder stickers, students patrol the school building twice a week for about 10 minutes looking for energy waste. They conduct their rounds during lunch, recess or after-school, especially on Friday afternoons to make sure all electrical equipment is turned off for the weekend.

If the students find an unoccupied room with its lights, computers or any other electrical equipment on, they slap a post-it note on the light switch with the words, “Oops, I left my lights on.” They also turn off the light and keep a record of which unoccupied rooms lights are on or off.

Visit the district Web site for regular updates about the program.