DC Energy Office

Sharon Cooke

Chief, Education Programs

Donnetta DeMyers “Nikki”

Program Assistant

Education Programs

Energy Efficiency Evaluation Program for

DC SchoolsLogisticsLogistics

November 2002 – May 2003

22 Teachers from 18 different schools

Average 5 Students Per School

92 Families

What’s in this Slide Show? An overview of the Energy

Efficiency Evaluation Program Demonstration of how changing

the behavior of teachers, students and their parents can bring about a reduction in consumption and yield dollar savings

Proof that the right incentive works

Project Description Educated a select group of teachers,

students and parents about the importance of energy conservation

Suggested simple behavioral changes Gave participants low-cost energy

materials and instruction on how to install them (Game Boy/FL incentives)

Monitored their bills after materials were installed

Determined if there were savings

What and How long?

Solicited Teacher ParticipationSolicited Teacher Participation November,December

Held Training Workshops and Held Training Workshops and Demonstrations for Teachers & ParentsDemonstrations for Teachers & Parents

JanuaryContacted Parents Weekly, Monitored and Contacted Parents Weekly, Monitored and

Compared Bills to last year, for SavingsCompared Bills to last year, for SavingsFebruary – MayAwards ProgramAwards Program

June

Who would participate? The DC Energy Office had several options The DC Energy Office had several options

to choose from because the DCEO has to choose from because the DCEO has operated Energy Education Programs in DC operated Energy Education Programs in DC Schools since 1981. The Programs include:Schools since 1981. The Programs include:

Energy Patrol Program

Energy Curriculum

Audit Training Course

Alternative Fuels Program in a High School Mechanic’s Class (Phelps)

Tour De Sol (Electric Vehicle Race)

The Choice was easy!

We asked all of the schools that were active in any one of our programs to involve at least 5 families each

We had 92 families participate from 18 different schools

Potential Problems Normally Education Programs have not

proven measurable outputs Positive results depended on parents and

students installing materials and changing behavior

Typically hard to get student & parent participation in outside programs

Considering Potential Problems,Do We Stop? No! We were determine to prove

that with the right educational approach and incentive, we could show savings?

We decided, “Let’s just do it!! And see what happens”

So much to do with so little time!

We gave One-on-One Training Workshops to the Teachers, Students and Parents.

Provided Kit Materials and Incentives for Behavioral Changes

Monitored Utility Bills

Workshops were keyWe Educated and Provided Hands-On Demonstrations

Conducted Workshops for Teachers, Students & Parents

Demonstrated &Distributed FREE Energy Kits

Influencing Factors

Difficult to account for Human Behavior

Families may have purchased more electricity using items such as computers, washers, dryers

DCEO did not invade the family privacy by asking very personal questions

Everything is going to be alright Teachers were excited Students were cooperative Parents were surprised at the

results

Families received their results The Education staff provided

information to parents during the awards ceremony on how much they reduced their energy usage which saved them money on their energy bills

Results Good News……

Approximately 56% of the gas accounts analyzed had a decrease in the amount of energy used

Approximately 33% of the electric accounts analyzed had a decrease in the amount of energy used.

What Happened Next? Families promised to continue practicing

energy conservation techniques The DCEO continued training teachers

and providing materials The DCEO worked with Carolyn

Kornegay, DCPS Curriculum Standards Specialist to incorporate the energy information into the science standards

The DCEO will continue to analyze and evaluate the utility bill data to get a true reading(one year is optimum)

DCEO will seek funding to repeat the project

Project ParticipantsProject Participants

DC Energy OfficeDC Energy OfficeChuck Clinton, DirectorChuck Clinton, DirectorSharon CookeSharon CookeDonnetta DemyersDonnetta DemyersDarnell HeardDarnell HeardRon CrittendonRon CrittendonVelina ThrowerVelina ThrowerDelante Penn AndrewsDelante Penn AndrewsBrian KennedyBrian Kennedy

Project Participants Project Participants (continued)(continued)

Dr.Jerome Paige, Logic Model Enterprise for Education, Training Gill Peach & Assoc., Evaluation Carolyn Kornegay, DCPS/Science Teachers, Students & Parents

THE END

Question & Answer Time

For More Information,call Sharon Cooke (202) 673-673 Sharon.Cooke@dc.gov Donnetta Demyers (202) 673-6732 Donnetta.Demyers@dc.gov