Pedaling for Power!

Constellation Energy hosted Energy Education Day at Sunset Elementary in Pasadena, MD on March 23^rd! All of the 4^th and 5^th grade students participated in activities using the energy bike which allows them to pedal the bike to generate electricity to power light bulbs. DaNel Hogan, an Einstein Educator Fellow at the Department of Energy and a NEED Facilitator, let the students experience the difference by pedaling the energy bike to power incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs. Students also calculated how much horsepower it takes to power three incandescent bulbs at once and the cost of lighting a house with the different types of bulbs for a year.  The students learned about the pros and cons of each type of bulb. They also learned how to dispose of compact fluorescent bulbs properly by taking them to a hardware store that accepts them or to their local household hazardous waste facility so the mercury vapor inside of them is contained and not released into the environment. A great day learning about energy efficiency, different types of light bulbs and pedaling for power!

A guest blog written by DaNel Hogan, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy