Energy Efficiency Education

In Washington, we partner with nonprofit agencies to provide energy efficiency education to sixth grade students. Agencies including Blue Mountain Action Council in Walla Walla, Northwest Community Action Center in Toppenish and Opportunities Industrialization Center in Yakima have certified teachers that provide this curriculum in classrooms. They instruct students on many aspects of energy including how it is generated, why it is important to use it wisely and how to become more energy efficient.

Pacific Power provides a kit of easy install measures that are distributed to all participating students. The program is well received by the students and their teachers.

More than 4,000 sixth grade students participated in the program last school year. Based on a follow-up study, the students combined efforts saved more than 11 million kilowatt-hours of electricity by installing measures such as compact fluorescent light bulbs and making behavioral changes such as reducing shower time. The measures and the students' new energy-saving habits also saved an average of more than $185 per family.

"These students are learning lifelong skills that will serve them well," said Clark Satre, regional community manager for Pacific Power. "By partnering with educators and our customers, we are helping to raise a whole new generation of conservation-minded consumers."