Students learn about energy conservation

BITBURG ANNEX, Germany – Senior Airman Josiah Caldwell, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuels maintenance technician and native of Chicago, explains how much water is wasted from a dripping faucet during Energy Day at Bitburg Middle School Oct. 4, 2012. Students learned about ways they can conserve energy around their homes. They learned about different types of light bulbs, water conservation, household appliances, and how they all contribute to energy waste. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon/Released)

Students learn about energy conservation

BITBURG ANNEX, Germany – Aiyana Eason pedals on an energy bike as fellow 8th graders Therese and Francesca Gatterburg cheer her on during Energy Day at Bitburg Middle School Oct. 4, 2012. The theme for this month is ‘I am Air Force Energy,’ so students had a chance to burn their own energy with activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon/Released)

Students learn about energy conservation

BITBURG ANNEX, Germany – Sixth grader Wesley Wade, son of Tech. Sgt. John and Virginia Wader, 52nd Fighter Wing, jumps rope during Energy Day at Bitburg Middle School Oct. 4, 2012. Students learned about ways they can conserve energy around their homes and also participated in activities like jump rope and bicycling as part of Air Force Energy Awareness Month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon/Released)

Students learn about energy conservation

Published Oct. 5, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

BITBURG ANNEX, Germany -- Students learned about energy conservation and ways to save their homes money during Energy Day at Bitburg Middle School Oct. 4.

The 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management Flight hosted the event with local energy company RWE to bring the children simple, yet effective, ways to save energy.

"Resources won't last forever, so hopefully this gets them interested in saving and protecting the environment," said Capt. Suzanne Jumper, 52nd CES Asset Management deputy flight chief and native of Beaufort, S.C.

The children learned about different types of light bulbs, solar energy, home appliances, water conservation, and how all of that affects both the environment and their parents' bank accounts.

"You have to start young to educate people about energy conservation," said the captain. "The younger you are when you understand how much a dripping faucet costs, the more impact you have later on."

While the occasional drip from a faucet may seem insignificant, over the course of a year, that can add up to hundreds of dollars.

The hands-on displays helped the children visualize just how much energy is spent on lighting their homes or using a hair dryer, said Jumper.

"It helps kids quantify just how much it costs over the course of the year," she said. "One boy said to me (about the dripping faucet display), 'Wow, that's how much my iPod costs!' and I said to him, 'Yeah, maybe you can get another if you save that water!'"

The displays represent the smaller things around the home that the students can remind their parents of and help conserve energy.

"I learned that some light bulbs are more efficient than others," said 7th grader Johnmichael Boucher, son of Master Sgt. Mark and Naomi Boucher, 606th Air Control Squadron. "If my mom leaves the lights on now, I'm going to tell her that she knows better."