Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2016, Page 24

Description:	win byEnergy conscious students in SAGE took the leadto save energy by implementing the Lights Outinitiative.Students in Mrs. Amanda Figolahs SAGE club havejust one simple request: turn off the lights.The class began the year studying energyconsumption data from the 2012-13 school year atBloomington South. That year, the average energyconsumption per month was 185,227 kilowatthours, costing a monthly average of $14,811.58 inelectrical expenses. According to BHSS buildingoperations, 50% of all electricity consumed camefrom use of electric lighting. After digesting thedata, the students hatched the Lights Outinitiative to save money and energy in the building.We learned so many things aboutopportunities we have to getinvolved in our community.-seniorAlekhya KoppineniSenior Alekhya Koppineni played an integralpart in the planning and execution of theexperiment. According to Koppineni, the goal wasto save energy and educate people while doing so.We learned so many things about opportunitieswe have to get involved in our community, and itsgood to spread that to the general population,Koppineni said.The plan involved having teachers turn offunused lights and keeping the brightness downwhen the light use was warranted. To spreadawareness about the campaign, students hungposters outside of teachers classrooms showingtheir level of dedication. Freshman Karyn Taylorexplained that the classrooms were ranked andlabeled based on a teachers desired participation.Platinum is full commitment, including turning thelights out while teaching, unplugging all theunnecessary devices, and encouraging others to dothe same, Taylor said.J_SWI. A SAGE club meeting is held in Mrs. Amanda Figolahs room todiscuss the lights out initiative. Figolah was adamant about keeping herlight switches taped down to prevent people accidentally turning themon. II. SAGE club discusses the next step they can take to further theirenvironmental escapades. III. Junior SAGE club member MariaLysandrou laughs while proposing an idea at the meeting. IV. Postershang outside of participating classrooms. Teachers were able to chooseto participate at three levels. PHOTOS BY ARIANNE KELLEYThe tag line of the initiative, What we Winby Losing the Lights, became a staple greetingin the doorways of many classrooms. Moststudents preferred the reduced lighting to theusual brightness. In cutting down on the primaryelectrical usage in the building, the SAGEstudents had high hopes for results. Theelectrical expenses were likely to lower fromturning out the lights, and awareness of energyoveruse was spread throughout the school. Theinitiative was a helpful and informative campaignthat pushed students and faculty to conserveenergy.- CALEB NORIEGA
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/9660
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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