Students light up for energy conservation

Renewable energy inspired Carson Middle School seventh-grade students Alyssa Corda and Jessica Shull to perform a wind turbine dance to their own rendition of Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird."

Geothermal power inspired 13-year-old Tyler Mireles to construct a generator using a plastic water bottle and a fan taken out of a remote control boat. Just so people will get the idea that this is supposed to make electricity, Mireles hooked up an EverReady lantern battery to a small light bulb.

Perhaps someday he'll build the real thing.

"Water and steam comes up from underground and goes into this generator and turns on the light bulb," he said while pointing out each step.

"I learned saving energy is cool."

Middle school students were honored Friday afternoon by the Desert Research Institute and Sierra Pacific Power Co. for their renewable energy projects.

The school also unveiled its 12-panel solar installation and wind turbine, which sits on the roof of the boys locker room. Installation of the system was completed in October. The school's new solar and wind energy system is named CHIPS, which stands for Carson High-Tech Ingenious Power Supply.

Sixth-grade student Kenny Mauer won a $100 savings bond for coming up with the name.

Alyssa Brown, 12, an environmental club member, steered power company officials and guests through the school and outside into the drizzling rain to view the school's solar panels and wind turbine.

Reading words carefully off a small card, and pronouncing words such as "voltaic," Alyssa said the generator will create enough electricity annually to save the school up to $900 on its electricity bill.

"It cost $30,000 and Sierra Pacific and DRI (Desert Research Institute) are responsible for the funding," the seventh grader said before she escorted the guests back into the school.

Inside she pointed to the system's power meter, labeled "Carson Middle School Envirometer." The needle indicated that the solar panels and wind turbine were creating .86 kilowatts of energy. Alyssa said this is enough to power four school computers and save 0.8 tons of carbon dioxide pollution.

Connie Duong, the first-place project winner for the sixth grade, said she learned how solar energy could benefit Nevada.

"I did it because I thought it would be the best renewable energy for Carson City," Connie said.

Tyler Shovah, 13, and Philip Wortman, 14, won first place in the eighth-grade competition for their "Reactors of Lasting Length" nuclear fusion project. The design was made with a plastic trash can lid and a Gatorade bottle.

Tyler Shovah said his dad told him to dress up nice to describe his project in front of an audience, which included power company officials and scientists.

"I noticed all the big people were wearing suits too, so I felt important," he said.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.