2006

For More Info: HSD, Carol Burch 315-564-7910 x 4129*
                     NYSERDA, Ray Hull 518-862-1090 x 3356

Seeing Is Believing: Escaping Energy Dollars Captured by Students; Hannibal Student Energy Expo-Community Energy Fair, Wednesday

Albany, Mar 10- -If curiosity about the unseen is a preoccupation of youth, then who better to appreciate a technology that visualizes the unseen than students?   On Wednesday, (Mar 15), at 6:30 pm, at the Dennis M. Kenney Middle School in Hannibal, students in middle and high school will exhibit infrared scanning technology at the first Energy Expo-Community Energy Fair. This culmination of the year-long "Seeing is Believing" Project is open to the public, and will offer energy-saving information for everyone.  

As the recipients of the 2005 Toyota Tapestry Grant, the Hannibal School District proposed studying heat loss in residential and public areas throughout the Hannibal region. Thanks to a collaborative partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Entergy Corporation, Infrared Solutions Inc., and the Rochester Institute of Technology's Center for Imaging Science, Hannibal School District students are using and integrating cutting-edge infrared technology into their curriculum and their community.   Infrared technology measures the temperature of objects and displays readings as thermal images, allowing the viewer to "see" heat and analyze where and how it escapes a structure.

Hannibal School teachers and high school students began intensive image analysis training at the Rochester Institute of Technology.   After completing the training and becoming "infrared imaging specialists," the high school students developed a mentorship program to teach Hannibal middle school students how to use the imaging technology.   With teacher and high-school students helping, seventh-grade students used the infrared camera to investigate heat loss, taking infrared pictures of their own homes and local community buildings.

The students' analyses and data collected will be presented at the March 15^th community event.   Also, they will identify conservation remedies for homeowners, and make formal proposals to local officials on community energy-saving approaches.

In addition to the infrared technology, students, parents and community members will have an opportunity to learn about energy-efficient technologies and the New York State Energy $mart^SM Program managed by NYSERDA.  

The Hannibal School District's infrared project has gained much more than the local spotlight.   The project team of imaging science-trained teachers is helping to develop national and New York State standards-based curriculum materials and activities for infrared technology.   This new curriculum will be included with the New York Energy $mart Students Program, which uses the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project's energy education curriculum.   

*For more information: Carol Burch, Hannibal faculty advisor: 315-564-7910, ext 4129, best between 10:40 am-12.50 pm or ask Operator.

The Hannibal School District energy project website is: www.hannibalcsd.org/eyesonenergy/index.htm   

NYSERDA websites: www.NYSERDA.org  or >www.GetEnergySmart.org

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