Earlier this year a group of EAST students wrot a grant that entailed forming a student energy team to do studies using themal imagery in three elementary schools. The grant also encouraged students to  assist the school district in finding ways to help save money through cost efficient weatherization recommendations.

Through a grant from Enhancing Education Through Technology the team was able to receive technology in which the Watts for Wildcats team is able to detect energy in-efficiencies in theh local elementary schools in our district.

Furthermore, through the help of local businesses such as Patrick Burton Insurance Agency and the Walton Foundation, the team has been able to send home weatherization kits to increase energy efficiency awareness in the area.

“We sent 26 kits out into the community,” said junior Luke Burton. “The kits contained a caulk gun, caulk, weather stripping, light bulbs, and child safety caps.”

The fourth grade students that were part of the project took the kits home and practiced their skills in using energy efficiency tools in their own homes. This has resulted in many families gainng new insight to energy efficiency.

The Watts for Wildcats team has undergone the task of judging all of the pictures taken by students to gauge who has embraced the energy efficiency initiative in the most effective way. The team will reward the students who went above and beyond in the project at a future “Green Night” hosted at Har-Ber High School.

“Green Night is an opportunity to celebrate the kids, promote local sponsors, and celebrate the work,” said Burton.

The Green Night will take place on May the 11 beginning at 6 pm. The event is open to the public and will be designated as a time in which the energy efficient students will be rewarded for their efforts.

The Watts for Wildcats Documentary will be featured on this night. The team will also have a keynote speaker on hand to talk about the energy efficiency initiative in our area, what citizens can do to make a difference, and about the effects of the work doe by the Watts for Wildcats team.

The team will also discuss the opportunity to form green teams at schools like Lee Elementary and Young Elementary in Springdale School District.

This EAST After Hours project is funded by the Enhancing Education Through Technology grant make possivle by the Arkansas Department of Education and is done in cooperation with the Southeast Educational Service Cooperative and the EAST Initiative.

“My favorite part of the project was teaching the fourth graders as Captain Efficiency,” said Burton.