December 21, 2007 - Complete with a clipboard, badge and reminder stickers, members of the Forts Ferry Energy Patrol have been on official duty since October monitoring empty classrooms throughout the school for energy waste.

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.

If any of 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 immediately turn off the light and keep a record of which unoccupied rooms lights are on or off.

Students patrol their assigned areas of the school building twice a week for about 10 minutes. They conduct their rounds during lunch, recess or after-school, especially on Friday afternoons to make sure that all electrical equipment is turned off for the weekend.
 

“You should see the enthusiasm in these kids’ eyes,” said Director of Custodial Services Chris Demetreus, who initiated the program with the help of Principal Candace Lobdell. “Candace was more than willing to assist me in starting the first-ever Energy Patrol.”

Similar programs are popping up all over the country. The program not only provides significant savings to school districts, but also helps students learn about the importance of conserving energy, leadership skills and responsibility.

Forts Ferry students interested in the program were required to apply.

“I thought it would be a good way to help the school save energy,” said McNulty.

“It's nice volunteering,” said Mishra. “You can help make a difference in your school.”

The program is working according to Demetreus. In Nov. 2007, Forts Ferry reported a 20 percent decrease in energy from the prior year. More data will need to be collected and calculated before district officials will be able to detail the exact cost savings.

The children have noticed a difference as well.

“Now my teacher hardly leaves the lights on,” said Mishra.

“They learned quickly,” Clickner agreed.

This knowledge also seems to be translating into savings at home where students have helped educate their parents.

“They think it’s a good way to save money and a good thing to do,” said Luibrand of her family’s reaction to the program.

This winter, Demetreus hopes to expand the program to all of the district’s elementary schools.