Brooklyn, N.Y. Second Graders Tackle Energy Conservation

The following was submitted by Trina Sultan, Cammi Cohen, and Shirley Gindi of Yeshivah of Flatbush, N.Y.

On March 6, 2008 we had our 2nd grade science fair about how to save the environment. Our group did an experiment on how compact fluorescent light bulbs save a lot of energy.

We learned that one fluorescent light bulb uses almost 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb. We also learned that the incandescent light bulb has wires inside that need to get hot to make light and it only uses 10% of its energy for light and 90% of it goes into the air and makes global warming. We also learned that using one fluorescent light bulb is the same as using almost ten incandescent light bulbs. Also, every person can save $45 on their Con Edison (electric) bill by using a fluorescent light bulb. Another important fact we learned is that in 2012 most incandescent light bulbs will need to use less energy.

The science fair was very fun. We did our project by putting a thermometer near a fluorescent light bulb and an incandescent light bulb. We measured the heat that each one makes. The incandescent light bulb got very hot like 103.6 degrees and the fluorescent light bulb got up to 93.0 degrees. So our results showed us that the fluorescent uses less energy because it does not need to get so hot to make light. The gas inside the fluorescent makes light using less energy.

We also used the machine that Westinghouse gave us. It showed how the light from the fluorescent light bulb looks like the light of an incandescent bulb. Almost everybody at the fair came to our table to try the experiment. They said it was a lot of fun. We also gave out information pamphlets, coupons, and comic books for everyone to take home. We had a raffle with your [Westinghouse] fluorescent light bulbs and one kid in each class got to take one home.

Our science board had 3 sides. The middle said the title Fluorescent vs. Incandescent. Then we wrote the question, How do you save energy using light bulbs? Under that we drew two pictures of light bulbs, one was Little Miss Bright (fluorescent) and the other was Mr. Dark (incandescent) and then we made believe they were talking to each other, fighting with each other about which one was better to use. Little Miss Bright won. On the other side of the board were all the letters that we emailed all the companies for help and the answers that we got from them. The other side was a result chart of our experiment. This was the best project!!!!!

Thank you for all your help. It made our project a success. We think we won first place. We also gave the special machine to our science lab so they can use it. Our teacher said it was excellent. We also made necklaces out of the certificates you gave us and we wore them the whole day. Everyone said they were cool.

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