Golden Acres Elementary School students are taking a fast track in the pursuit of energy savings, and in honor of their efforts, a new flag waves from the school’s flagpole.

Watt Watchers of Texas, a free, state sponsored program to help schools save energy and money by getting students involved, is in place at schools throughout Pasadena ISD. And in October, the program became active at Golden Acres after fifth grade science teacher Jennifer Land attended a Watt Watchers workshop.

“My personal electric bill this past summer was awful,” Land said. “I began to think how expensive it must be for our school district to pay for the rising cost of energy, and I figured if I could make a difference at home, maybe I could make a difference for my school.”

Watt Watchers recently decided to start providing flags to districts around the state that have a districtwide Watt Watchers program to help raise awareness about the program and to also provide a friendly competition between schools in the district.

“The flag represents the Watt Watchers program at that particular school and that its Watt Watchers team has done something great to receive it,” said Watt Watchers program coordinator Kirstin Wilsey. “Jennifer Land has been an outstanding sponsor for this program. It’s not easy to be the best energy school in a district the size of Pasadena ISD.”

Pasadena ISD Executive Director of Special Projects Tom Swan created the competition in the district for the flag to wave at the school with the greatest reduction in utility bills every month. Swan said he compares each school’s bills to the same time for the previous year and will reward the winning school by letting the flag fly at their school for the month. Golden Acres is the first school in Pasadena ISD to receive the flag after saving several hundred energy dollars at their campus, according to Swan.

“Computers don’t burn a lot of energy by themselves, but when you think about the more than 20,000 computers we have in our district, it adds up,” Swan said. “If every campus participates in Watt Watchers, it’s a tremendous help. They empower the kids to be active in the program, and in turn, the kids learn about how to be more aware of conserving energy.”

Wilsey said it’s important for schools in participating districts to implement the program to help get students involved in conserving energy.

“Energy is expensive and schools need to reduce energy waste so more dollars can be spent in the classroom,” she said. “Energy efficiency also prevents pollution so when students are reducing energy waste at their schools we all breathe a little easier. Tom is a major player in these efforts in Pasadena ISD. He works very hard to keep the students informed and excited about the program.”

Students are selected to be members of the school’s Watt Watchers team. The team patrols their school looking for empty classrooms with the lights on. The students turn the lights off and leave a “ticket” for the teacher. For those teachers who are energy-conscious, the students leave a “thank you” note.

Land said she asked each fifth grade teacher to choose two responsible students who would commit to serving on the Watt Watcher team, and the members of Golden Acres’ team are Alexis Arizmendi, Isais Alonso, Jose Llamas, Aaron Alemon, Briana Gonzalez, Zayra Gaona, Ashley Alderete and Sarah Bolch.

Alderete said she enjoys being on the Watt Watcher team. “It’s fun because when the teachers see us coming, they yell ‘the Watt Police is coming,’” she said.

But serving as a Watt Watcher isn’t just about having fun reprimanding those teachers who forget to shut off the lights. It serves as a great educational experience for the Watt Watchers and their peers.

“I hope it’s educational for them in seeing that a team, though small, can make a big difference,” Land said. “My team knows their duties are much more than just checking lights. I’d like to hope they practice energy conservation at their homes, and I feel that to lead by example is the best way to teach. Whether it is in saving energy or making a stand for something they believe in, these kids can make a difference.”

For more information on getting the Watt Watchers program active on a campus, please contact Swan at 713-740-0089 or at tswan@pasadenaisd.org.