The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

West Carrollton Green Team promotes energy efficiency

State program helps students teach green technologies

$Morgan Langford, 14, (front) and Devin Armbruster, 15, both freshmen on the Green Team at West Carrollton High School, demonstrate using a bicycle how much energy is required to power different types of light bulbs. \uFEFF Staff photo by Jan Underwood$

Jan Underwood/Staff Photographer Morgan Langford, 14, (front) and Devin Armbruster, 15, both freshmen on the Green Team at West Carrollton High School, demonstrate using a bicycle how much energy is required to power different types of light bulbs. \uFEFF Staff photo by Jan Underwood

ENLARGE PHOTO

New pool at 'The Heights' opens
5/27/12
Huber Heights suing consultant for more than $50,000
5/26/12
4 arrested for OVI at Kettering checkpoint
5/26/12
Man found dead at bar; police seek suspect
5/26/12
Turner adopts role for Romney campaign
5/26/12
> More headlines

By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer 12:51 PM Tuesday, March 29, 2011

WEST CARROLLTON — Hoping to instill in children a critical understanding and respect for energy efficiency, the West Carrollton High School Green Team uses a bicycle that, when pedaled, converts energy from mechanical to electrical, powering light bulbs, radios, fans and even hair dryers.

“It’s so cool,” said 14-year old Green Team member and ninth-grader Morgan Langford. “I get to learn so much about how much energy we use, how we use it and how to use it efficiently. I get to use what I learn and teach it to others. I really like that.”

The Green Team is an Ohio Energy Project Career Development Program funded by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and overseen by Energy Optimizers, USA.

West Carrollton’s team joins Oakwood and 20 other Ohio school districts in the program. The West Carrollton team is led by students and sponsored by Dayton Power & Light, Vectren and other partners.

Ninth and 10th-grade science and biology teachers and team advisers Jennifer Parks and Michael Newman said they immediately saw the opportunity the program provides in promoting energy conservation.

“We both knew right away, we wanted to be a part of this,” Parks said.

In addition to showing youngsters how much energy is used in daily activities, the Green Team also promotes the implementation of green technologies.

“They’re running with it,” said high school Principal Fred Gehron. “That passion is spilling over to students, who then pass it along. It’s very contagious.”

For example, the district installed motion sensors that decrease and increase pop machine temperatures based on the amount of motion detected, such as busy weekdays, versus weekends.

Newman said students “love being involved in it, and you can just see how much they enjoy when they get through to others.”

Parks said the team in April will visit the William H. Zimmer Power Station near Moscow, Ohio, and demonstrate the bicycle at Twenhofel Middle School in Kentucky.

Share this article