AEP Ohio is bringing energy efficiency and conservation to life for Columbus students, thanks to a longstanding partnership with the nonprofit Ohio Energy Project.
In 2007, AEP Ohio was the first utility to pilot e3 Smart, a STEM program that provides a comprehensive curriculum, lab equipment and energy-efficiency kits for students in grades four through 12. This year, about 11,500 students and 165 teachers across 149 school districts are enrolled in the AEP Ohio-funded initiative.
Ohio Energy Project designed the program to align with Ohio’s learning standards, covering various aspects of energy — its sources, everyday usage and how individual actions can contribute to saving money and protecting the environment. Through hands-on learning, the students become energy efficiency advocates, eager to share their newfound knowledge with their families, friends and community.
The students also bring home energy-saving items like light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and weather stripping to install in their homes with their parents. Together, they participate in surveys to show how they incorporated energy-efficient practices at home. Teachers whose students complete these surveys can earn a $150 stipend to purchase additional educational resources for their classrooms.
“My fourth graders look forward to working on their AEP Ohio content each year,” said Dana Flusche, who teaches at Indian Springs Elementary in Columbus. “They really have fun learning about the different energy sources and they love ‘being an expert’ about light bulbs and telling their parents the benefits of LED lights. Parents always have positive comments about how much their child talks about science during the AEP Ohio content time.”
Colerain Elementary’s Laura Nein, who has taught the e3 Smart program with Columbus fourth and fifth graders for several years, said her students love the lessons and their families appreciate the focus on energy consumption.
“I think it is especially valuable when the students start connecting what they learn about energy to what goes on in real life inside their own homes,” Nein said. “When they have something practical they can contribute to their families, they start to see that what they are learning has immediate positive practical impacts. I’ve had students request to take home the voltage tester so they can use it with their families on their appliances!”
Older students also find a lot of value in the program, said Georgia O’Hara, a teacher at Centennial High School in Columbus.
“My students are on the cusp of moving out and living on their own,” O’Hara said. “Having access to these resources has helped them think about no-cost, low-cost and for-cost ways that they can have a lower energy footprint and it has shown them some simple steps that they can do to move in that direction.”
AEP Ohio’s support of the e3 Smart program makes it possible for Ohio Energy Project to deliver meaningful, hands-on energy education to classrooms across the state, said Kelsey Beach, Ohio Energy Project education coordinator.
“This partnership empowers thousands of students and teachers to explore STEM in exciting ways and inspires young people to see themselves as future leaders in Ohio’s energy story. AEP Ohio’s sponsorship is an investment in the future of our communities and the energy leaders of tomorrow,” Beach said. “Together, we’re bringing energy concepts to life, sparking curiosity about energy and innovation and ensuring that students of all backgrounds can see pathways to meaningful careers in the energy sector.”
AEP Ohio aims to enroll even more students and classrooms in the future, especially in low-income communities. For more information, visit OhioEnergy.org/Programs/Efficiency.
