The Learning Without Limits Science Club composed of middle school students, work at increasing public awareness regarding environmental problems associated with inefficient T12 lighting systems and problems these outdated lights cause our environment. The primary goals are to: 1) get students involved in making a positive difference in our environment, 2) increase public and student awareness of the environmental benefits when inefficient T12 lighting systems are retrofitted, 3) develop a project that can be replicated by any school or business interested in implementing this project in their area, and 4) present our findings to state legislators to make recommendations to communities to retrofit their inefficient T12 lighting systems.

Since 1995 numerous middle school students have been involved in the High Efficiency Lighting Systems project. Currently, students are working with several area businesses and school districts, providing information on converting their inefficient T12 fluorescent lighting systems to T8 or T5 fluorescent lighting systems. The Iowa Energy Center estimates between 30% and 35% of the school buildings in Iowa still have inefficient lighting systems. Students are working to identify the school districts in the state of Iowa that still have inefficient T12 lighting systems. Once identified, school superintendents will be provided information on incentives, rebates, loans and environmental impact as a result of retrofitting their inefficient lighting systems.

President Clinton on his October 22, 1997 National Address on Global Climate Change stated, "For example, in the town of West Branch, Iowa, a science teacher named Hector Ibarra challenged his 6th graders to apply their classroom experiments to making their school more energy efficient. The class got a $14,000 loan from a local bank and put in place easily available solutions. The students cut the energy use in their school by 70%. Their savings were so impressive that the bank decided to upgrade its own energy efficiency."

PARTNER STATEMENT

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is proud to recognize the Learning Without Limits Science Club of West Branch, Iowa. The students of West Branch Middle School have been involved with this project for 12 years. They recognized a wasteful, widespread practice, researched the issue and identified a real world solution. The simple act of replacing T12 lighting systems with modern T8 or T5 systems saves valuable energy and can drastically reduce operating costs. The students discovered that the savings generated from the change could pay for the new lighting systems in only 3 or 4 years. The Learning Without Limits Science Club is sharing their model with other school districts and local businesses. They have also presented their work to state and local officials in order increase public awareness in their community. The Foundation is proud to support the efforts of Hector Ibarra and the students of West Branch.