Next generation might not consume all resources

Ken Beaton, Director of the Northern Nevada Children's Museum said he hopes the next generation of Americans will be energy conscious.

"As they grow up they are going to be energy aware," he said. "They will learn to utilize energy in an effective way."

The Children's Museum was trying to spread the word with its Energy Fair, a joint project with the University of Nevada, Reno Engineering Department, Western Nevada Community College, the Desert Research Institute and other businesses and organizations.

"We need to educate the young and try to make an impact," said Beaton, who wore a solar-powered baseball hat that fueled a fan resting on the brim. "They don't vote now but they will."

Exhibits shown in the museum's parking lot included a solar powered freezer, solar powered water heaters, two fuel-efficent cars and lights ran by solar energy and potatoes.

One of the more popular exhibits was a solar power oven baking cookies.

"I liked the cookies because I got to eat some but it was cool because I learned something too," said Ashlee Goff, a 10-year-old student from Gardnerville Elementary. "I am going to recycle more and not use electricity as much."

Morgon Cottom, a 10-year-old from Spanish Springs, said she learned a lot about energy too.

"I learned that when you are going down a dark hallway and you are kinda freaked out, but not really, you should not turn the light on because you are just wasting power," she said.

Scott Nelson an 8 year old from Gardnerville said he used to only recycle paper at school to save energy. Now, he said, he knows better.

"I learned that in the oven you can cook a couple of cookies, some potatoes in the sun, popcorn on a barbecue and scrambled eggs on the stove, Scott said. "I like to save energy because it helps to keep plants and animals alive."

Roger Jacobson, vice president of academic affairs at the Desert Research Institute, said children aren't the only ones who need to think about they way they use energy. He said he believes many adults are reluctant to purchase energy-saving products because of the "negative connotation" they received in the 70s.

"All of the systems that we have shown today, like the solar panels, are commercially available and mass produced," he said. "They are reliable, mainstream and very professional, made by major, real, companies."

Beaton and Ellen Jacobson, project coordinator for the College of Engineering at the University, had many tips for people that wanted to begin conserving energy immediately.

"One aluminum can will provide enough energy to run your TV for eight hours," Beaton said, "It takes a lot less to recycle compared to processing the ore."

Jacobson suggested that people purchase fluorescent light bulbs. In an experiment conducted at the fair, it showed that flourescent light bulbs use a quarter of the energy that conventional light bulbs do and last 10 times longer. They also cost eight times as much.

"You can buy them anywhere and some are even on sale," she said. "That is something you can do easily."

"Ride a bike," Beaton said.

"Put green power in schools," Jacobsen added. "There are lots of things we can do."