21 Jul 2014 Kids encouraged to show 'energy smarts'

Energy is an essential part of our daily lives. We use energy every day at home, at school and even when we’re playing. Energy powers our computers and cell phones, gives us light in the dark and even heats and cools our home. Because energy is so important, it’s important to use it wisely by being efficient.

Energy conservation is any behavior that results in the use of less energy, while energy efficiency is the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. Here are a few things kids can do to start saving energy at home:

Turn off all lights, ceiling fans and appliances like the television when you leave a room.

When it’s sunny outside, open the curtains and use the sunlight instead of turning on the lights.

Don’t leave windows or doors open when the heat or air conditioning is on.

Help hang clothes outside to dry on a sunny day instead of using the dryer.

Ask your parents to install energy-saving CFL light bulbs and set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 in the summer.

Do you have some ideas and thoughts on how to conserve electricity and energy?  Share them by entering the second annual Conway Corporation Energy Smart Art and Essay Contest.

The art contest is open to students in kindergarten through fourth grade in Conway. Students should use their imagination to create a drawing colored with crayons, markers, colored pencils or paints to illustrate the 2014 contest theme, “Every Watt Counts.” Entries will be judged on creativity and theme representation. Winning art will be on display during Public Power Week, Sunday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 11. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners. The school of the overall winner will also be awarded $100 for the art program in that student’s name.

The essay contest is open to students in fifth through 12th grade in Conway. Students should submit a typed essay of no more than 1,000 words on the 2014 contest theme, “Every Watt Counts.” Entries will be judged on content and syntax. The winning essay will be featured during Public Power Week, and cash prizes will awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners in two age categories: fifth through seventh and eighth through 12th.

All students K-12 who live in the Conway Corporation service area are eligible. Ask your school officials for an official entry form and contest rules or visit conwaycorp.com and click on the Energy Smart link. Entries should be submitted to participating teachers or postmarked to Conway Corporation, 1307 Prairie Street, Conway AR 72034, by Tuesday, Sept. 30. Essay entries may be submitted electronically in MS Word or .pdf format to [email protected]. A scanned copy of the entry form plus contact information must accompany all electronic submissions. Please put 2014 Essay Contest in the subject line.

For information about the contest andConway Corporation’s Energy Smart program, visit conwaycorp.com and click on the Energy Smart quick link.