Published Quarterly by The

Energy Center, The University

of Texas at El Paso
Sponsored by the Texas
Comptroller of Public
Accounts - State Energy

l I ssue: Conservation Office,

and the United States

Fal o School Department of Energy

The Newspaper for Watt Watchers and Watteam.
ack t Volume 9 Number 3

Now incorporating WATTimes and the Texas School Energy Manager News. B Fall 2005

Change the World:

Simple, Effective, Easy WATTS INSIDE
Watts Across Texas A-2

W
att Watchers is simple, effective, and easy. energy future must be ever more efficient. You can
Transmission Line A-3
Your students can make a big difference for spread energy awareness and change the world. It
Secret Mission
your school. You will save energy, save happens one person and one light switch at a time.
– Lesson Plan A-4
money, and prevent pollution. Our
Watt Watchers is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. Pull Out Posters A-5 to A-8
First, get a free kit that has all the materials Watt’s the secret A-9
you need to get started. Second, patrol
WW Program News A-10
your school for energy waste and
encourage everyone to adopt good energy Traveling Energy
Exploration Stations A-11
management habits. Third, document and
Watt Watchers 20th
celebrate your success. Keep track of how
Anniversary B-12
habits change at your school and reward
Renewable
improvement.
Resource Guides B-1
Turning off the lights in a classroom during Real Projects
two unoccupied hours per day (e.g. lunch in the Real World B-2
and after school) saves $50 over a school Knowledge is Power B-3
year and it also cuts pollution back at the
Energy Poster B-4
power plant. Help everyone at your school
learn good energy habits. Start Watt Get Your Kit in Shape B-5
Watchers today. It will change the world. Electrifying Extras B-6

Watt’s Going On? B-7

Energy Encounter Coming to a School Near YOU!

H
igh School Students: have you run out of ideas for lighting audit, vending machine
energy projects to do at your school? Are you new to audit, computer audit or exit sign
your energy committee and have no idea what an audit. The information that you
energy project is? Then you need to attend an Energy collect from doing an audit like this
Encounter! can save your school district
thousands of dollars. We will also
An Energy Encounter is a one day event to provide lots of
take an in-depth look at the Real
information, ideas, and excitement about energy projects for
Projects in the Real World with
students, teachers and administrators. Groups from several
Real Results Handbook, which
different schools in a district or region come together for fun,
will allow you to ask questions
learning, and motivation. It is a great way to pick up energy
about projects and give us
project ideas for Student Council, Future Teachers of America,
suggestions for projects to add to
National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America,
the next issue.
your Science Club or other group.
All this, and more, is condensed
Energy Managers are much needed for these workshops.
into one full day that includes
Students in your district are doing energy projects and we would
handouts, prize drawings, and a
like you to know what they are doing. The encounter also
little frivolity along with serious
gives you a chance to work with them to do projects that would
savings sessions to help your
benefit everyone. These student groups are at your campuses
group encounter energy and
everyday of the school year and they can and will be your
emerge efficient.
eyes and ears on that campus to help reduce energy waste. If
you are interested in assisting with an Energy Encounter in Watt Watchers of Texas will be
your area, we would be pleased to organize a workshop for presenting the next Energy
your schools. Encounter workshop in the Dallas/
Fort Worth area at Creekview
Attending an Energy Encounter allows you to participate in an
High School in Carrollton Farmers
Energy Mission. This mission will teach you how to do a
Branch ISD on October 22, 2005.
Registration for the workshops is
free but space is limited. We encourage each school that
attends to bring 4 students and a sponsor so that you can get If you have any questions or
the most out of the event. would like to register, please
If you are interested in hosting an Energy Encounter in your contact Watt Watchers of
area of the state, please contact us. We would love to bring Texas at 1-888-928-8326 or
this workshop to a school near you! email us at
info@wattwatchers.org.
 Texas Recycles Day
(Austin, Texas) – Texas Recycles Day (TRD) is
a statewide public awareness campaign, promoting
the environmental and economic benefits of recycling.
WHAT: Texas Recycles Day encourages Texans to start
recycling or increase their recycling efforts. Events
focus on reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebuy. The
program is partnered by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Keep Texas
Beautiful (KTB).
WHEN: Tuesday, November 15, 2005, is Texas Recycles Day.
Events are being held from mid-October through mid-
November.
Landfills are a major
source of methane, a WHERE: Communities statewide – for a complete list, visit
potent greenhouse gas. www.texasrecyclesday.org or call 512/239-3150.
CONTACT: Mary Kelley, Texas Recycles Day Coordinator
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087 MC 113
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Phone: 512-239-6324 Fax: 512-239-3175
Email: mkelley@tceq.state.tx.us
“Growing Recycling in Texas” is the theme for Texas Recycles
Day for 2005, with an emphasis on composting and using
compost. Composting is nature’s way of recycling.
In Texas, more than 20 million tons
of compostable organic
materials like yard trimmings,
wood chips, food waste,
and paper go into
landfills every
year. When these

n
THEME: The theme for 2005 Texas Recycles Day is Growing
Recycling in Texas, emphasizing composting. This
program aims to encourage Texans to recycle in any
way they can, and to make recycling a part of their
By using mulch and daily lives.
compost on lawns and
gardens, Texans could WHO: An estimated 600 Texas Recycles Day events will be
reduce the need for held by communities, businesses, schools,
watering by 30 to 60 government agencies, civic groups and individuals
percent. across the state.
For Texas Recycles Day 2005, TCEQ will partner with KTB to
coordinate statewide events. Keep Texas Beautiful, a
nonprofit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful,
strives to empower Texans through education to take
responsibility for enhancing their community
environment.
m a t e r i a l s
decompose, methane (a powerful
greenhouse gas) is released.
In urban areas of Texas, as much as half of the water supply is
used for landscape and garden watering. Using compost and
mulch helps the soil absorb and retain moisture, which can reduce
watering requirements by fifty percent and reduce runoff into lakes
and streams. Mulch and compost also insulate grasses and other
plants against extreme heat and cold, and slowly release nutrients
that promote plant growth and resistance to pests and diseases.
Statewide events highlight numerous solutions for simple and
inexpensive waste reduction such as, composting and recycling.
Texas communities use these events as an opportunity to raise
public awareness on the economic and environmental benefits
of waste reduction and recycling. Events will be held statewide
from mid-October through November 15th.
www.texasrecyclesday.org
www.americarecyclesday.org
See Events in
Watt’s Going
On, page B-7.

School
Recycling
Program
COMING
SOON
SOON!

2
Section A
THE TRANSMISSION LINE

Switched Off – Computers World Population Heading

Can Save Rapidly Toward 7 Billion
Most computers can turn themselves off. But they don’t. The global population will reach 7 billion by about 2012
“Computers, especially monitors, use a lot of energy,” and continue to rise for many decades, according to a
said Dub Taylor, director of the State Energy new report from the Population Reference Bureau, a
Conservation Office (SECO), a division of the Texas private research organization. “Almost 99 percent of
E W S
State Comptroller’s office. “Many computers have what population growth today and for the foreseeable future N OFF
is called power management capability. But for a lot of will be in ... developing countries,” said Carl Haub, a T
HO WIRE
reasons it isn’t activated.”
THE
demographer with the bureau. In c o n t r a s t ,
Power management, which reduces the amount of birthrates are declining in many
energy a machine uses when it’s not in use, can save developed countries, a
about $30 per computer each year, Taylor said. But trend that could ultimately
often power management capabilities such as “sleep” lead to wealthy nations
mode have been deactivated by Information Technology having less money to
administrators because they can interfere with spend on foreign aid
computer use, particularly in older models. “Older PCs for poorer nations,
can have problems with power management,” he said. according to Haub. In
“With a modern computer with Windows NT operating the U.S., though,
system, that’s not a problem. Macs don’t have a fertility rates are
problem either.” holding steady and
population is expected to
SECO funds Watt Watchers, a program that works with rise from 296 million today
schools and state agencies to encourage power to 420 million by 2050,
management. Taylor said hundreds of schools meaning the nation would hold onto
participate in the program. “It’s a no-brainer from an its status as the world’s third most-populous country.
economic standpoint,” he said. The Environmental India is expected to overtake China and assume the
Protection Agency (EPA) has a free computer program No. 1 slot by the middle of the century.
available that activates a computer ’s power
management capability. Spring Branch Independent Excerpted from Grist Magazine, www.grist.org
School District (SBISD) in Houston activated the power
management capability for central processing units
(CPUs) and monitors on its computers in 2003. That’s
saved the district about $200,000, according to SBISD Intel to Develop Energy-
Energy Manager Rebecca Cordeiro de Peredo. The
district has about 12,000 computers at 47 schools, Saving Computer Chips
according to Cordeiro de Peredo. The only glitches in Intel Corporation announced in mid-August that it is
the process were with older computers. employing breakthrough technologies for computers
Taylor said state government has been slow to adopt that will either reduce energy use tenfold or provide 10
power management because there’s been no central, times the performance of today’s products. Intel will
coordinated effort. Texas State Rep. David Leibowitz, introduce a new micro-architecture for computer chips
however, filed legislation that attempted to change that. in late 2006, using an advanced 65-nanometer
House Bill 2442 would have required all state agencies manufacturing process that places four computer
and public institutions of higher education to determine processors on a single chip. Intel predicts that the
if power management would save them money. The computer industry will employ the chips to build a new
bill’s fiscal note, prepared by the Comptroller’s office, category of ultra energy-efficient “Handtop PC” devices
estimated that the programs would save the state $3.3 that provide both communications and personal
million a year. computing, but require less than a watt of processing
Adapted from an article in the Texas Comptroller of power and weigh under a pound.
Public Accounts publication - Fiscal Notes, July 2005 Excerpted from www.eere.energy.gov/news/
by Greg Mt. Joy www. window.state.tx.us/ The average person
Americans Make More Than generated 2.7 pounds of
waste each day in 1960.
Wind and 14,000 Roundtrips to the In 2000, the rate was
4.5 pounds-per-person-
Solar Powered Hotels Sun a Year per-day.

In 1950, U.S. drivers covered some 588 billion

Two Hyatt Regency hotels in the Dallas area have
agreed to buy only renewable energy, making them the
largest hotel purchasers of energy from wind, solar,
and other renewables. The hotels will buy their power
from Austin-based Green Mountain Energy Co. Hunt-
Woodbine Realty Corp. owns the Hyatt Regency Dallas
and the Hyatt Regency at DFW International Airport.
The hotels will cut their share of pollution from carbon
dioxide emissions by the equivalent of 4,400 cars.
w
kilometers (365 billion miles) in 40 million cars, or almost
14,600 kilometers per car. By 2003, the average
distance driven per year had grown to more than 19,000
kilometers. Multiplied by the far-larger number of There are 29 cans per
vehicles now on U.S. roads, the total distance traveled pound of aluminum, up
from 22 in 1972.
had grown more than seven-fold, to 4,281 billion
kilometers. That’s equivalent to 14,308 roundtrips from
Earth to the sun.

Excerpted from the Houston Chronicle, Saturday, Excerpted from Vital Signs – Fact of the Week, 3
August 20, 2005. www.worldwatch.org
Section A
 Secret Mission
Behind Power Lines:
Watt Watchers Survey
Grade Level: K-8
Lesson Overview: Students will survey their school for energy waste or savings to determine if being Watt
Watchers will save energy and money for their school. This activity can be modified for any age
or ability group.
TEKS

Math: K.14(A), K.15, 1.9(A,B), 1.11(A), 1.12(A), ELA: K.2(A), K.4(A,B), K.15(C), K.16(A,B), 1.4(A,B),
1.13, 2.12(A), 2.13(A), 2.14, 3.15(A), 1.15(C), 1.18(C), 1.23(A,B), 2.4(A),
3.16(A), 4.14(A), 5.14(A), 6.10(D), 6.11(A), 2.14(A), 2.20(A,B), 3.20(A,B),
Q: How many TV
reporters does it 7.11(A,B), 7.13(A), 8.14(A) 4.21(A,B,D), 5.21(A,B,D), 6.20(A,B,D),
take to change a 7.20(A,B,D), 8.13(G,H,A)
light bulb? Science: K.2(A,B,C,D,E), K.3(A,B,C), 1.2(A,B,C,D,E),
A: More at 11. 1.3(A,B,C), 2.2(A,B,C,D,E), 2.3(A,B,C), Time: 1 week or 15 minutes twice daily all year
2.10(B), 3.2(B,C,D), 4.2(B,C,D), 5.2(B,C,D),
6.2(B,C,D), 6.4(B), 7.2(B,C,D), 7.4(B), Materials: check sheets, pencils; also helpful are
7.14(C), 8.2(B,C,D), 8.4(B) clipboards or other writing surfaces and
a map of the school
Social Studies: K.13(A,B), K.14(A,B), K.15(C) K.16(A),
K.17(A), 1.16(A,B,C), 1.17(C), 1.18(A,B), Vocabulary: check sheet, tally, survey, waste,
2.7(A,B), 2.8(A,C,D), 2.16(B), 3.4(A), efficiency, energy
3.16(E), 3.17(D), 4.9(A,B,C), 4.21(A,B,C),
4.22(C), 5.9(A,B,C), 5.13(A), 5.24(C,D,E),
5.25(C), 6.6(B), 6.7(C), 6.9(B), 6.20(C),
6.21(C), 7.20(C,D), 7.21(C), 8.30(C)

Background Information:
Survey your school to see if the Watt Watchers program 2. When you come to a classroom where energy is
will save your school money. Use the Watt Watchers being used because there is a class in the room,
check sheet to tally the empty classrooms at your school you put a check on your check sheet.
with the lights on. By patrolling the halls of your school
you can see just how much energy is going to waste. 3. When you come to a classroom where energy is
You can also see if the teachers are saving energy and being used but there is no one in the room, then
Ninety-nine percent of energy is being wasted. Put an X on your check
all beer cans and 97
using equipment efficiently or if they could improve their
habits and save energy and money. sheet.
percent of all soda cans
are made of aluminum. Don’t tell anyone outside your class what you are doing. 4. When you come to a classroom where energy is not
American consumers Your operation must be completely unknown to anyone being used and there is no one in the room, then
and industry throw outside your class. Make sure that everyone in the
away enough aluminum
energy is being saved. Put a 0 on your check sheet.
class understands that the idea is to check up on
to rebuild the entire
United States
everyone’s habits as they are now – before they know 5. After you have patrolled for a week you can give an
commercial air fleet what you know. That is, turning out the lights in one award to the teacher who saved the most energy.
every three months. empty classroom two hours each day saves $50 over You can find a copy of the Zero Hero Award at our
a 180 day school year. website.

f
So your job is to go quietly through the hallways without Discussion:
causing anyone to wonder just what you are up to. By
quietly checking for wasted energy without fanfare, you Ask the students ways to:
Forty billion glass can find out just how important it is to turn off lights and 1. Inform each teacher of their energy use habits.
containers were computer monitors when they are not needed. The
produced in the United best times to check are when 2.Educate the students about energy
States in 1992. classrooms are likely to be empty: conservation.

x
before school, recess, lunch periods
and after school. Keep a record of the 3.Remind students and teachers why
number of empty classrooms you find energy conservation is important.
and add them up at the end of one
In 1994, approximately Extension:
13.3 million tons of week. What would the savings be
glass waste was if you started a WW program and Continue your survey throughout the
generated in the United changed these teacher’s habits? year through the Watt Watcher
States. Food and program. Call 1-888-USWATTS or
beverage containers email us at info@wattwatchers.org for
Activity: Watt Watcher
made up 91 percent of more information and to order a FREE
Survey
that amount; the kit full of materials to help you and your
remainder came from Checking for energy waste students.
products like cookware in your school is very
and glassware, home Resources:
simple. All you need is your
furnishings, and plate Check Sheet, a pencil and a few • www.wattwatchers.org - The
glass. quiet students. Watt Watchers website has an
enormous amount of information that
1. Take your materials and
will help you adapt this lesson. If you
start your energy patrol.
decide that you want to start a full Watt
Your mission is to go
Watchers program in your school, log
to every classroom in
on to the website, click on the
4 the school and check to
enrollment form, and we will send you
see if energy is being
a FREE kit! Continued on page 9
Section A saved or wasted.
 Watt Watchers Survey Check Sheet
Room # Room # Room # Room # Room # Room # Room #

In 1993, plastics
accounted for 11.5
percent of the United
States municipal solid
waste stream by weight.
In 1994, plastics
comprised 9.5 percent of
the waste stream by
weight.

X - Energy Wasted (lights on when not in use)

√ - Energy in Use (room in use)
0 - Energy Saved (lights out when not in use)

Remember, the Teacher who saves the most energy gets the Zero Hero Award! Q: How many altos
does it take to
change a light

WATT’S SECRET?
bulb?

THE
A: None. They can’t
reach that high.

S
ome of you glanced through the lesson plan on
page A4 and thought to yourself, “Why do we
have to keep it a secret?” Some thought “What
are we keeping secret?” and some thought, “I work in
a school- there are no secrets”. These are all really
good thoughts along with many others we hope to
answer.
When should we go on a Secret Mission? Do your
Secret Mission before you announce anything to the
teachers. Do your Secret Mission at the time you think
your patrols will actually occur. Do your patrols during
the time you think rooms are likely to be unoccupied,
or any time it fits in your day. Just remember that you
are looking for true data.

What is a Secret Mission? A Secret Mission is a Where should we conduct our Secret Mission?
chance for your students to patrol the halls of the school Check all parts of your building. Classrooms will be
looking for classrooms with lights on and no one inside. easy to remember, but don’t forget about portables, About the Posters
You are looking for electricity being wasted at your offices and locker rooms. Two full color, 16x20 inch posters
school. The students are determining base data before are included in every issue of
any announcements are made, before any tickets are WATTS NEWS. They are printed
How do we conduct a Secret Mission? Just read back to back for reversibility. You
given, before any habits are changed. through the lesson plan on page A4 of this newspaper laminate once but get two posters.
and you should have all the info you need. You will When it’s time for a new look in
Why keep it a secret? Secret Mission data will give need to collect a few materials including a check sheet your room, just flip your posters.
Laminating machines are available
you real results for how many classroom habits were to record your information. You can print a copy of the at most Regional Service centers
changed through your participation in the Watt Watchers check sheet from the website, www.wattwatchers.org. if your campus doesn’t have one.
of Texas program. By doing the Secret Mission before If you still have questions, check the website or give us Laminating a poster costs less than
50 cents.
starting your actual patrols, you will be able to show a call at 1-888-WATTEAM.
the teachers, principal, and other school employees This issue we are reproducing the
that there truly is a need for this program. You will I have completed a Secret Mission. Now what? very popular “I Want Y’All” poster
featuring Uncle Tex (Uncle Sam’s
have more participation from the others in your building Keep patrolling. Use the program manual to help you little brother). Everyone wants and
by using real dollar amounts. If anyone asks what you do kickoff programs and announcements to keep the needs a copy of this important
are doing just say, “We are conducting a class teachers and students excited about the program. Fill message. On the flip side we are
running the Department of
assignment and we will announce the results soon.” out the check sheets and give the data to your principal Energy’s poster for Energy
and energy manager so they can report the school’s Awareness Month 2005 “Not In
Who should go on a Secret Mission? Take the savings to the school board. But most of all, let us Use? Turn Off The Juice!” A great
message with excellent guidance
students you plan to actually patrol with. This group know how you are doing. Send us your first month on how to save energy.
can be virtually anyone in your school. Guidance and check sheets and your secret mission check sheets
suggestions on who to choose can be found on page along with a little information about your program. Who As an added bonus this issue also
includes an 11x17 poster on page
14 of the Watt Watchers of Texas Program Manual. If you are using for patrols, when and why you patrol, B-4. It is another of the
you would like to start a Watt Watcher patrol at your what you are doing to keep excitement up, or whatever Department of Energy’s series of
school, but need support from your principal, go on a you would like to share with us and with the other Watt great graphics encouraging energy
efficiency and renewable energy
secret mission yourself. Then bring the data to your Watcher schools around the state. When we receive use.
principal and energy manager. They will support you your information, we will send you a little incentive prize
100% when they see the amount of electricity waste for each of your active Watt Watcher patrollers. We
that could be saved. look forward to reading your letters. 9
Section A
 PROGRAM NEWS
i
For every ton of material
U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Services:

Energy Awareness Month: Smart Energy Choices

Each year for Energy Awareness Month—
recycled, 17 times less
energy is expended.
October—FEMP provides materials and
event ideas to help promote energy-saving
practices at federal facilities. Materials
include posters, and other promotional
materials that carry the U.S.
Department of Energy’s (DOE)
energy awareness message.

Energy Awareness Month 2005

This year’s Energy Awareness Month
theme, Not In Use? Turn Off the
Juice!, continues and reinforces the
messages of the Department of Energy’s
Smart Energy Choices awareness
campaign. This year ’s promotional
materials remind federal employees to switch
The energy conserved in
off unnecessary lights; unplug equipment that
1998 because of
recycling was enough to
drains energy even when not in use; use
power more than nine efficient ENERGY STAR® products; and
million households for walk, bike, or take public transportation to
one year. work.

FEMP appreciates federal and private

partners who assist in spreading the word.
Your participation in distributing promotional
materials and conducting energy awareness
campaigns is vital to making agency
personnel and others aware of the
importance of saving energy. To help spread
the message FEMP is producing outreach
materials with energy saving messages
including posters, business card holders,
magnifiers, and monitor calendars. Federal
agencies participating in the You Have the October is Energy Awareness Month. This year’s theme promotes
smart energy choices, reminding federal workers and others to
Power federal awareness campaign will switch off unnecessary lights, unplug electrical “drains,” use efficient
receive a supply of these items; however, ENERGY STAR® products, and take public transportation.
limited quantities of selected items are
available to other offices.

9
Manufacturing a can
from recycled aluminum
Call the EERE Information Center at 1-877-337-3463
to order a limited supply of Energy
Awareness Month materials. Materials
will be available to order after
requires only 5 percent September 12, 2005. A CD ROM Promoting Energy Awareness Month
as much energy as with high resolution graphics for FEMP and others provide many ideas
making the same can creating and printing your own for promoting Energy Awareness
from virgin ore. materials is also available; Month. FEMP’s frequently asked
agencies and partners that questions
require bulk quantities are
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/
encouraged to reproduce the
f e m p / s e r v i c e s /
materials using this CD ROM.
energy_aware_faqs.cfm) are
The CD ROM will be available
helpful for finding out more about the background
for ordering from the EERE
of this special month and for getting ideas for
Information Center, 1-877-337-
energy awareness approaches and activities.
3463, by August 31, 2005.
In addition, FEMP offers tips on how to
NEW for Energy Awareness save energy at your facility and in
Month 2005. FEMP has your home. And the U.S.
designed and produced a Department of Energy’s
number of Animated Energy Energy Savers Consumers
Awareness Messages that Guide offers tips on energy
promote employee energy efficiency and renewable
Recycling one ton of awareness during Energy energy.
aluminum saves 37 Awareness Month and all year
barrels of oil. Additional information about
round. These messages can be
energy efficiency and
—”Outline of Talking sent out as a mass mailing of e-
energy savings also is
Points for NRDC mail messages or attached to e-mail
available on the EERE
Leadership Briefing.” messages as a simple, cost-free way
website, http://
for agencies to spread the word about
www.eere.energy.gov. For
energy efficiency. The animated gif files
further information please
are available to download from http://
contact Annie Haskins, FEMP
10 www.eere.energy.gov/femp/services/yhtp/
Communications and Outreach Manager,
campaign_materials.cfm
annie.haskins@ee.doe.gov.
Section A
 TRAVELING ENERGY
EXPLORATION STATION
M
any of you received the new Watt Watchers of
T e x a s
The Electricity Station
Program Manual
covers topics such as
and Knowledge is Power
circuits, flashlights,
curriculum supplement in
electromagnets, reading
your mailboxes this summer.
meters, and static electricity.
We hope you are excited to
This station contains items
do those activities. A great
such as a wattmeter,
way to incorporate more
batteries, and light bulbs
hands on science
(incandescent, compact

T
exploration into those
fluorescent, and fluorescent).
program activities is through
The Tale of Two Light bulbs
the Traveling Energy
presentation materials are
Exploration Stations. And
also included. You can
just like any program Watt Recycling one ton of
preview this presentation on
Watchers of Texas provides material in a typical
our website curbside recycling
you, they are FREE.
www.wattwatchers.org. program can conserve at
The Traveling Energy least $187 worth of
The Solar Cooking Station electricity, petroleum,
Exploration Stations are kits
contains four ready-to-use natural gas, and coal;
with lessons and lab supplies
commercial solar cookers as even after accounting
boxed together ready to set for the energy used to
well as plans to build seven
out for your students. The collect and transport the
others. Included in the box
Station also comes with material.
are cookbooks, pots and, of
resources like books, videos,
course, hot pads. Your —Denison, Richard and
and posters to teach
students will be able to cook John Roston.
electricity, solar cooking,
anything from a s’more to a roast with the wide range “Advantage Recycle:
renewable energy resources, or Junior Solar Sprint.
of solar cookers involved. Assessing the Full Costs
and Benefits of Curbside
These stations can be checked out from Watt Watchers Recycling.”
The Renewable Energy Station has labs and lessons
of Texas for two weeks at a time. The box will be
to cover each of the renewable resources, solar, wind,
shipped to your school at our cost. You use the
biomass, geothermal, and hydropower. Let your
Traveling Energy Exploration Station for two weeks.
students build a geyser, a wind meter, or a pinwheel
When you are finished, we will have the box picked
turbine. See what happens when garbage breaks down
back up at your school, once again at our cost. Don’t
or how color can affect solar water heaters. These are
worry about using up the expendable supplies in the
all hands-on learning activities students of all ages will
box; we will refill them when they get back to our office.
enjoy.
There is no cost to you at all, no shipping fees, no rental
fees, no reservation fees- totally FREE.
The Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Station helps to support
the JSS program in Texas. Teams of students in grades
To reserve a Traveling Energy Exploration Station for
6-8 can build and race solar powered model cars. The
your classroom, fill out the reservation form below and
JSS program is sponsored nationally through the
fax it back to us. Reservation forms can also be found
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The station
on our website www.wattwatchers.org, on our CD-Rom
includes instructions on how to build the cars as well
and in most of our newspapers. Be sure to give us
as how to hold races at your school and in your district
some alternate dates you would like the station in your Q: How many liberal
to qualify for the national races in Colorado. The station arts professors
classroom and to send in your reservation form early does it take to
includes solar panels, wheels, transmissions, motors,
since we have a very high seasonal demand. screw in a light
and tools to build 10 cars. This station can be kept for
bulb?
up to six weeks.
A: Interesting
question. What we

Watt Watchers of Texas think of as a

“darkness” is
actually the
1-888-USWATTS or 1-888-WATTEAM
absence of light,
PO BOX 68660, El Paso, TX 79968 but we associate
Request for Energy Exploration Station a “-ness,” a state
of being, to the
Date of Request School dark, such that
Teacher Grade the lack of a
light bulb -- a
*Street Address thing -- creates
City State Zip its counterpart -
- this thing we
*Shipping Address
call “darkness.”
City State Zip
Phone number: Fax Number:
Email Address:
Please tell us how you found out about the traveling Energy Exploration Station:

List the dates when you would like to reserve the Traveling Energy Exploration Station:

Ist choice Which station are you requesting?

2nd Choice ! Electricity ! Junior Solar Sprint
! Solar Cooking ! Renewable Energy
3rd Choice
Watt Watchers of Texas will contact you to let you know what date the station will ship to your school. Before it is shipped, you
will receive a confirmation with a loan agreement for you to sign and return to Watt Watchers of Texas.
11
*The stations willl be shipped to your school through Fed Ex Ground. Fe Ex requires a street address -NO P.O. Boxes, please.
If your shipping address is different from your mailing address, please provide both.
Section A
 Section

The Newspaper for Watt Watchers and Watteam.

BFall 2005
Now incorporating WATTimes and the Texas School Energy Manager News.

Teacher Resource Guides on Renewable Energy

T
h e St a t e E n e r g y Conservation Office Texas Teacher Resource Guides successfully meet all
(SECO) and the these requirements. Recycled glass melts at
Texas Solar Energy lower temperatures than
Each Unit of Study includes raw materials used for
Society (TXSES) are very a teacher introduction, a
proud to announce the glass production. Using
Reading Passage for the recycled glass lowers the
availability of free students with industry’s demand for
educational materials for comprehension questions, energy and reduces
Texas teachers. These several hands-on lab bottom line production
complete resources activities with thorough costs.
provide teachers in grades instructions for students, and
4 – 12 with all they need to —”Glass Recycling
assessment tools. The Sourcebook, ed. 2.”
cover renewable energy, materials are available in a Glass Packaging
energy efficiency and separately bound book for Institute.
conservation in their each level as well as on a CD
classrooms.

z
that contains all three books,
This series of books the Infinite Power video
provides grade-specific narrated by Dan Rather and
activities, all correlated to a PowerPoint presentation
the required Texas containing current
Essential Knowledge and information on renewable
Skills (TEKS). Teachers energy. Recycling one glass jar
saves enough energy to
asked for resources that Teachers can receive a hard light a 100-watt light
gave them more content copy in the mail by contacting bulb for four hours.
mastery on a subject few SECO at 800-531-5441
studied in school, that extension 3-1796, or they
addressed the legally can download the materials
required TEKS, and that from www.InfinitePower.org.
provided their students with grade level reading
materials to introduce energy. The Infinite Power of

Watts Up? Student Competition Sponsored by # Graphic design

PITSCO projects, such as web
sites, logos or comic
The scientific community recognizes the impact of books
electricity production from coal and natural gas on our
air quality. Greenhouse gases from these emissions # Visual arts of any
contribute to global warming, generally recognized as medium, such as
an authentic concern. These issues have an immediate photography, watercolor,
impact on the future quality of life for today’s students. or pastels
What can we do today to lessen that impact? # Performing arts projects,
such as original music
That is the question WATTS UP? is encouraging Texas (lyrics) or radio spots
teachers to explore with their classes. Open to all Texas where the entry is a taped
students, the challenge is an educational competition performance
designed to engage students in the exploration of
creative messaging tools to promote energy solutions # Mentoring projects that
today. Students will need to understand the importance show documentation of
of energy conservation. They will need to investigate methods and results of
alternative energy sources for cleaner, sustainable teaching younger
electricity production. Then they will need to create ways students
to convey their understanding to their fellow students # Science or technology
and motivate altered behavior patterns. projects that show results
Just as our energy future requires “out-of-the-box” and documentation of
thinking, students are encouraged to engage their own experiments, models or
creative energies in unique ways. The overall challenge computer technology
is to convey a meaningful message, student-to-student, Prizes will be awarded on a regional basis, whose
about our energy future and why renewable energy and winners will be entered into a statewide competition with
conservation are vital pieces of the solution. This prizes ranging from Alternative Energy Stations for
message, which should be aimed at fellow students, winning classrooms to cash prizes for winning students
can be conveyed in any number of ways. and up to $1,000 in PITSCO supplies for winning
classrooms.
# Language arts projects, such as poetry, skit scripts,
or short stories For all the rules of eligibility and to download an entry 1
form, please visit http://www.infinitepower.org/features/
wattsup.htm
Section B
 REAL PROJECTS IN THE REAL WORLD
WITH REAL RESULTS
weekend? We have that. Want to host a Junior Solar

W
att Watchers of Texas has always worked with Sprint Race? We even have that.
student groups on how to be energy efficient
in and out of school. We have given ideas Now, should you stop doing poster campaigns? Of
and projects to schools and clubs on an individual basis course not. The more times a person reads something,
and included the greater the
project write- chances they
ups in Watts will remember
News. Well, it. But, you can
now we have add other Short
consolidated all and Simple
those great projects to your
ideas, along repertoire to
with a lot we help make your
learned from energy and
you, into one environment
handbook. The message sink
Real Projects in. Host
for the Real carpool days,
World with Real alternative
Results High transportation
S c h o o l days or check
Handbook or for oil leaks.
the Project Host an Earth
Handbook for Day celebration
short. and have a
solar cookout.
Your student Write letters to
group is your local and
probably great state officials to
at decorating let them know
posters and your opinions
getting the on issues.
word out using High school
recycled crafts. students may
You probably not be voters
even do Watt yet, but they
Watchers will be soon.
patrols pretty
well, but what If you have a
about bigger student group
projects? who would be
Projects with interested in
real results? A the Real
section of the P r o j e c t s
handbook handbook,
entitled Real Projects includes all the steps you need please call us at 1-888-USWATTS. There are enough
to do big projects that will have a real impact on many projects in this handbook to keep your student group
people. Want to mentor a feeder school using Watt busy all year. If you have projects not listed in the project
Watcher patrols? We have that. Want to audit your handbook, please send us a write-up. We would love
vending machines, exit signs or energy use over a to include your projects in our next edition.

§ Watt Watchers is a free, state-

sponsored program to help
school districts save energy and
money by getting students
involved.
§ Students patrol the school
looking for empty classrooms
with the lights on. They turn out
the lights and leave a ticket for
Source: Weyerhaeuser the teacher.
§ It may sound trivial but…when
the teacher forgets to turn out
the lights an 2 extra hours a day,
at lunch and after school for
example, — It costs the district
$50 every year.
§ Get your students involved.
Save energy, save money, and
2 prevent pollution.
Watt Watchers of Texas
1-888-US WATTS (1-888-879-2887)
P.O.Box 68660, El Paso, Texas 79968 Fax: 1-888-879-2887
e-mail: info@wattwatchers.org
http://wattwatchers.org
Your Name: _________________________________________________
School Name: _______________________________________________
School Address: ____________________________________________
(Free kit will be shipped to your school / Street address preferred)
City: ______________________ Zip: _____ - ____ County: ______
School Phone: ( ) ____ - ______ School Fax: ( ) ____ - _____
Email Address: ___________________________________________
Name of School District: ___________________________________
Date: __________________________
Fall 2005

Section B
 Knowledge is Power

T
he Knowledge is Power Curriculum Supplement
has lessons to supplement your textbook’s
energy unit. It can help your students do more
real world activities. The newly revised Knowledge is
Power was printed in booklet fashion (72 pages) this Q: How many
summer and was mailed to you in August. If you did psychologists
does it take to
not get a copy, give us a call at 1-888-USWATTS and change a light
we can send a copy, or you can download the lessons bulb?
from the website www.wattwatchers.org. A: Only one, but it’s
going to take a
The new lessons are written in a more teacher-friendly long time, it’s
format. They include starter activities, discussion going to be very
questions, and extensions. They also include a revised expensive, and the
light bulb has to
list of TEKS that better fits the main activities. These want to change!
lessons incorporate reading, math, science, language
arts, and even computer science and art.

Each lesson has a suggested grade level (K-8), which

the TEKS are listed for, but we hope that you will expand
out into the other grade levels. All the lessons are great
and can be used for students of all ages.
Lessons include home and school audits, cost effective
buying, meter reading and transportation. We have
even included a “Who’s Who in Electricity” research
project. Energy efficiency is the main topic of most of
the lessons rather than energy sources or generation.
Remember, these lessons are meant to enhance your
energy unit.
We will continue to support your efforts to teach energy
efficiency and conservation by revising Knowledge is
Power as needed and adding new topics and activities.
Keep up the good work!!
“Knowledge Is Power.”
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626)
Although the adult human brain only weighs a little
over 3 pounds and consumes a mere 20 to 40 watts it is
none-the-less a powerhouse. The brain has
20,000,000,000 to 50,000,000,000 neurons that can fire
at 0.5 to 4 micro second intervals — enough power to
create great works of art and amazing scientific
achievements. From the creativity and power of the
human brain modern civilization was built. Mankind’s
relationship to and use of energy are likely to undergo
dramatic changes in this generation. Today’s students
will re-invent the future with their brainpower. The
more they know about energy – the better they will be
able to decide what to do. Knowledge is Power. Use it
wisely.

Grab
Some Traveling Energy Exploration Stations are
free to check out – we will ship them to your

Energy school for you to use for 2-4 weeks and then
schedule for station to be picked up from
your school – it’s that easy!

Solar Cooking Electricity Station

Station
10 fun hands-on activities
4 solar cookers
*Instructions to
* with instructions and
materials
Recycling Facts/Info for Fall

*build 7 other 20 books on electricity &

05 gutters
In 2003 Texans threw away

solar cookers
Cooking supplies
*Watt’s
energy
Up Meter
29.07 million tons of waste.
Over half of the materials

*Bulletin
disposed of in Texas landfills

*Solar
board *Teacher’s Guide
could be composted. By

*Posters for your classroom

recycling organic materials
cookbooks
*Teacher’s Guide
through mulching and

* * composting, more than half of

this waste could be eliminated.
Landfills are a major source of
methane, a potent greenhouse
gas.

Renewable Junior Solar By using mulch

Renewable Energyand compost on

Energy Station Sprint Station lawns

Station -
reduce
and
the
gardens,
need for
12 hands on activities
30 to 60 percent.
Texans could
watering by
Books
12 hands-on 8 solar panels
*Books
In 1990, Texas had 790 active
Videos
activities *16 wheel kits
landfills, but only 190 by 2002.
Posters

*16
Incinerating
Teachers 10,000 tons of waste
Guide
motors
*Videos
creates one job. Landfilling that

*Posters *Tools for assembling cars

same amount creates six jobs.

*Teacher’s Guide
But recycling
Junior that amount of
Solar Sprint

*Teacher’s Guide
waste
Station creates 36 jobs.

* * The average
8 solar panels
2.7 pounds
16 wheel kits
1960. In
16 motors
person
of
2000,
waste
the
generated
3
each day in
rate was 4.5
pounds-per-person-per-day.
Tools for assembling
Section B
There are 29 cans per pound of
cars
aluminum, up from 22 in 1972.
Get Your Watt Watchers Kit in Shape
W
e want you to have all the supplies you need can send you a new kit. Please make your own copies
to make your Watt Watchers of Texas Patrols of tickets, thank you notes, and checksheets as needed.
the best they can be! The Watt Watchers kit Consider laminating the new color tickets and thank
that you received when you signed up for the program yous to make them recyclable and permanent.
may be missing items and showing signs of hard use.
We will send you the supplies you need to make your Through the years we have added new items to the
energy patrols the best ever. Your kit originally came program and we do our best to make sure that our
with 4 notebooks, 4 lanyards, 4 name badge holders, 4 Watt Watchers sponsors received a copy of those new
name tags, 4 pencils, a manual and a CD-ROM, plus items. If you have not received one of the items listed
sample tickets, check sheets, etc. If you are missing on the supply/publications form, please fill in the form
any of those supplies, please let us know. We are here so that we can include these items in your re-supply
to support your Watt Watchers programs! shipment. You may want additional copies of the
materials that have been sent to you in the past and
There are this would be
items in the the time to
W a t t r e q u e s t
Watchers of them.
Texas kit that
are made to P l e a s e
last many complete the
years, for s u p p l y /
example, the publications
notebooks form and fax
and lanyards. it to Watt
There are Watchers of
other supplies Texas at 1-
in the kit that 8 8 8 -
you might USWATTS or
need more of email the
each year, like information
Q. How many
the pencils to us at alchemists does
and name info@wattwatchers.org it take to change
badges. However, if you have had and we will restock your a light bulb?
your kit for several years and are Watt Watchers supplies! A. Into what?
missing notebooks and
lanyards let us know and we

Supply and Publication

Order Form

__ Name tag cards

Kit Supplies

Insert for name badge holder on lanyard

__ Zero Hero Award
award for classrooms that always turn out the
1
Today, 62 million
__ Watt Watchers pencils -imprinted lights
newspapers will be
For students to use while on patrol __ Most Improved Watt Watcher Award
printed in the U.S., and
__ Watt Watchers CD-ROM Award for classrooms that change their habits
44 million will be
The entire program on a disk __ Flyers thrown away. That
__ Certificate of Achievement Set of all 14 – 8-1/2x11 color flyers means the equivalent of
Provide one to each student that __ Complete replacement kit about 500,000 trees will
participated during the year A whole new kit with a set of 4 of all materials be dumped into landfills
this week.
Source: The Earth Works
Group Recycler’s
Publications
Handbook
__ Watt Watchers of Texas Program Manual __ Real Projects in the Real World with Real Results
How to start and run your Watt Watchers of Texas – coming soon!
patrol, plus much more, 80 pages A handbook for high school student groups interested
in doing projects that make a difference by saving
__ Knowledge is Power energy, saving money and preventing pollution.
An energy efficiency curriculum supplement for K - All enrolled Watt Watchers sponsors will
8 grades, 72 pages automatically receive a copy
__ Sleep is Good – coming soon!
__ King with the Terrible Temper – K-2 Activity
Monitor and computer power management for Texas
Booklet
schools.
Featuring a predictable story for coloring, 42 pages
All enrolled Watt Watchers sponsors will
automatically receive a copy

Name: ______________________________________ Please return this form to

School: _____________________________________ Watt Watchers of Texas.
Fax: 1-888-USWATTS
District: _____________________________________ 5
Mail: PO Box 68660, El Paso Texas 79668
Email Address: _______________________________ Email: info@wattwatchers.org
Section B
 Electrifying Extras
B6 Electrifying extras Keep America Beautiful
Each issue we bring you a few websites that you can use to http://www.kab.org/kids/defaultx.htm
enhance your energy unit. This year we will be bringing you a
selection of sites that were found in the Energy Education These kid pages are designed with educators in mind.
Resources: kindergarten through 12th grade booklet put out by Each activity
the Deportment of Energy. This booklet is full of organizations h a s
that provide free or low cost materials to teachers as well as background
websites that have information and games to help teach energy information and
resources and conservation. To order this book, go to http://
www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/eer/kiddietoc.html. lessons to go
along with it.
Energy Information Administration The lessons
www.eia.doe.gov/kids cover waste to
This website is an overall wonderful tool for use in the classroom. energy plants
They have fact sheets that could be used as an internet search,
games and activities to be played on the computer and off, ( b i o m a s s
experiments, and a glossary for all those energy related words e n e r g y ) ,
your students don’t understand. landfills,
recycling and
Solar Now, Inc closing the
http://www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm
Watt Watchers of Texas has a solar cooking Traveling Energy loop. Animation i s
Exploration Station you can check out to learn about many ways fun and kid
to build a solar cooker. If you would like to try one out before friendly. Also available on the Keep America Beautiful
reserving our station, try this website. Pizza box cookers are home page (www.kab.org) is a link to your local adopt-
small solar ovens that are easily built in one class period. Full a-highway group. This link will give you the name,
instructions, diagrams and pictures are included here.
phone number and email address of the person in
charge in your area. And, adopting a highway is one of
Keep America Beautiful the projects listed in the Real Projects Handbook.
http://www.kab.org/kids/defaultx.htm
In 2003 Texans threw
The Solar Cooking Archive
These kid pages are designed with educators in mind. Each
away 29.07 million tons activity has background information and lessons to go along with
of waste. it. The lessons cover waste to energy plants (biomass energy),
http://www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm
landfills, recycling and closing the loop. Animation is fun and kid http://www.solarcooking.org
friendly. Also available
With over 1.5 Million
on the Keep America
Beautiful home page visitors since 1996, the
(www.kab.org) is a link to Solar Cooking Archive is
your local adopt-a- the most popular as
highway group. This link well as the most
will give you name,
complete collection
phone number and email
address of the person in of solar cooking
charge in your area. information available.
And, adopting a highway The site is sponsored by
is one of the projects Solar Cookers International, a
listed in the Real
worldwide organization that serves as an international
Over half of the Projects Handbook.
information exchange network to promote solar cooking.
materials disposed of in
-end- Good people with good information doing good work.
Texas landfills could be
composted. By recycling
Graphics:
organic materials Keep America Beautiful logo
through mulching and Solar Now, Inc logo

Please Send Us Your

composting, more than Energy Information Administration Kids page Logo
half of this waste could
be eliminated.
Vintage Photos

We need photos from the early days of Watt Watchers

and Watteam. Do you have any snapshots of students,
6 staff, or activities and events? Please let us publish them
in WATTS NEWS. We will scan and return your originals.
Section B
 Watt’s Going On?
Dallas Area Energy Encounter October 22, 2005
Creekview HS Carrolton Farmers Branch
ISD
Watt Watchers is hosting a FREE Energy Encounter at Carrolton
Farmers Branch ISD’s Creekview High School on October 22, 2005
from 9am-4pm. Teachers and students from High Schools throughout
the Dallas/Ft.Worth area are invited to participate.
An Energy Encounter is a one day workshop to provide lots of
information, ideas, and excitement about energy projects for students,
teachers and administrators. Groups from several different schools
in a district or region come together for fun, learning, and motivation.
It is a great way to pick up ideas for energy projects for Student
Council, Future Teachers of America, National Honor Society, Future
Business Leaders of America, your Science Club or other group.
Cost is free but space is limited and you must pre-register to attend!
No lunch will be provided. There will be a one-hour lunch break in
which students and teachers will be able to have lunch and then head
back for a fun filled afternoon. If you have any questions give us a
call!
To Register for the Encounter please call our toll free number at 1-
888-928-8326.
Tenth National Green Power Marketing Conference
October 24-26, 2005 Austin, Texas
The purpose of the National Green Power Marketing Conference is
to review the status of green power marketing in electricity markets
and to explore strategies to increase the development of renewable
energy resources through customer choice. Conference organizers
include the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and Center for Resource Solutions. This year’s conference
will celebrate and build on a decade of success by examining the
growth of green power markets, with particular emphasis on
communicating “best practices” for product design and marketing,
and program implementation. Attendees will hear from national and
regional experts on important topics such as: Best Practices in Green
Power Product Design, Effective Marketing Strategies and Tools for
Acquiring Customers, Defining Renewable Energy Attributes and
Values, Using Green Premiums to Finance Renewable Energy
Projects, and The Interplay of Voluntary and Compliance Markets.
For additional information, see http://www.eere.energy.gov/
greenpower/conference/tenth.html
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching
October 27-29, 2005 Houston, Texas
CAST is the Annual Convention of the Science Teachers Association
of Texas and the Largest Regional Science Teachers Conference in
the United States. 4,000 or more attend this huge conference and
exhibit each year.
Alternative Energy Workshops Ongoing around the State
September 7 - December 1, 2005
SECO’s Alternative Energy Program seeks to improve Texas
secondary students’ understanding of energy, environmental issues
and increase their awareness of alternative fuels in their communities.
Alternative Energy begins by introducing physical and chemical
Recycling Events in Texas
principles of energy and fuels, then proceeds to investigations of the
nature and extent of energy resources, the economics and
environmental effects of energy use, alternative energy technologies,
global climate change, health and safety. For more information call
Juline Gurasich at (512) 936-9283 or email
juline.gurasich@cpa.state.tx.us. Teachers attending workshop receive
a free CD, which includes 25 hands-on investigations/activities, web
resources and numerous flash animations. There are 6 hours of CPE
credit given to workshop attendees. For additional information on the
workshops, see the 2005 Alternative Energy Workshops Schedule.
Adding Energy to the Classroom
Infinite Power of Texas Workshop
Ongoing around the State
Ever wonder how to meet the “solar energy” TEKS or how to address
“renewable and non-renewable energy”? Want to introduce your
students to being smarter energy consumers in the future?
We have free resources to meet your needs. Twenty-two free,
comprehensive Units of Study are based on TEKS and are ready to
use in grades 4 –12.
Join us for a 6-hour workshop on electricity, energy conservation and
efficiency, and renewable energy. Workshop participants will:
# Receive grade appropriate hard copy of Teacher Resource Guide
and Units of Study with instructions on usage
# Receive CD with all grade levels, plus PowerPoint graphs and
charts, plus 16-minute video narrated by Dan Rather, “The Infinite Power
of Texas”
# Learn content mastery (2 hours) on energy subjects including:
# energy consumption vs. production, US and Texas
# renewable energy resources, US and Texas
# energy conservation and energy efficiency
# advantages and barriers to renewables
# Texas renewable energy development and potential
# Participate in grade appropriate hands-on Lab Activities (3 hours) Incinerating 10,000
from the Units tons of waste creates
# building an electric circuit one job. Landfilling
that same amount
# heating water with the sun
creates six jobs. But
#
testing a pinwheel wind turbine recycling that amount
# constructing a parabolic solar water heater of waste creates 36
# make a PV cell jobs.
# testing a windmill generator
*
The Units use an integrated approach to science, math and language
arts and include TAKS skills in expository reading and comprehension,
multiple choice and short answer assessments, map reading, graphing
and the scientific inquiry.
Lunch hour is on us! You will be able to browse the REsource Expo
and learn about the student competition—”Watts Up?”—that could earn
your classroom up to $1,000 worth of equipment. In 1990, Texas had 790
active landfills, but
The workshop and materials are presented by the Texas Solar Energy only 190 by 2002.
Society and are funded by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office
and the US Department of Energy. For more information, contact
Kathryn Houser at 800-465-5049 or info@txses.org
(See page A-2)
7
Section B
 As a nation, we spend about one-quarter of our
electricity on lighting, at a cost of more than $37
billion annually. Much of this energy is wasted
using inefficient incandescent light bulbs. Only 10
percent of the energy used by an incandescent
bulb produces light; the rest is given off as heat.
If you replace 25 percent of your light bulbs with fluorescents, you can save
about 50 percent on your lighting bill. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
provide the same amount of light and no longer flicker or buzz. CFLs cost more
to buy, but they save money in the long run because they use only one-quarter
the energy of incandescent bulbs and last 8-12 times longer. Each CFL you install
can save you $30 to $60 over the bulb’s life.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/efficiency/savingenergy.html

Watt Watchers of Texas NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
The Energy Center EL PASO, TX
PERMIT NO. 77
University of Texas at El Paso
P.O. Box 68660
El Paso, Texas 79968
Please Route:
o Science Chair
o Student Council
o Librarian
o Energy Manager

Fall 2005 http://wattwatchers.org

1-888-US WATTS