Burbank Water and Power (BWP) has reported significant success in its student energy efficiency program, which aims to educate middle school students about water and electricity conservation. Drew Johnston, the sustainability officer at BWP, presented the program's achievements during a recent government meeting, highlighting its impact on both students and the community.

Last school year, all three middle schools in the Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) participated, involving approximately 1,200 sixth-grade students and their teachers. The program focuses on hands-on activities that encourage students to engage their families in energy and water-saving practices at home. Each student received an energy and water efficiency kit, which is estimated to save about $35 annually in utility costs. Collectively, the kits distributed last year saved enough electricity to power 31 homes for a year and enough water for 37 single-family homes.

Johnston emphasized the program's longevity and positive feedback from participants, noting that it has been running for 14 years. The curriculum includes lessons on natural resources, energy fundamentals, and conservation strategies, supplemented by resources available to teachers in both English and Spanish. The program also offers mini grants for classroom activities and encourages students to submit videos and photos of their conservation efforts for extra credit.

Looking ahead, BWP plans to expand the program to include high school students, introducing more advanced curriculum and career information related to utilities and trades. Johnston expressed enthusiasm for continuing collaboration with local educators and fostering a culture of sustainability among Burbank's youth.