AEP Ohio is bringing energy efficiency and conservation to life for Gahanna 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.
“The e3Smart program is one of my favorite things to teach with each year. It’s so hands-on and the students love it and learn a lot,” said Sarah Hanson, a fourth grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. “Everyone’s favorite is usually ‘light bulb or heat bulb,’ and we get a lot of ‘light bulb’ moments doing that activity.
“Setting up the experiment is the first time each year that we talk about variables and the scientific method. We record and graph the results, and the students are always amazed at how quickly the incandescent light bulb heats up the thermometer! Then when we do the math to calculate the costs, they are even more amazed and so excited to take home their light bulbs to tell their families what they have learned.”
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.
