Jun 4, 2009 8:22 am US/Eastern
Animated Bear Helping School Save Energy
Students Watch 'Pasha' In Their Dorms
NORTH ANDOVER (WBZ) ―
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Pasha helps students at the Brooks School keep track of their energy use.
WBZ
A North Andover boarding school has come up with a unique way to get students to conserve energy – with the help of an animated polar bear.
The Brooks School unveiled 'Green Life Brooks' in May. The program centers around an animated bear that was
developed by two former Dartmouth College students and their professor.
Pasha, as some have nicknamed him, lives on a touch screen in ten dorms. His mood changes according to energy use.
KEEPING PASHA HAPPY
"When he is most happy we're using the least amount of electricity," science department head Brian Palm explained. As kids flip on the lights, "cracks form in the ice. He starts sweating."
If too many lights stay on "he falls into the water and sits there and flaps around in the water," Palm said.
The kids can't bear to see the bear struggle.
"I used to leave my music on blasting out the window, leave my computer on all day long," said sophomore Tyler Stillings.
Now he and other students are far more aware of their energy consumption, not just turning things off – but unplugging them as well.
"Part of our job here is to educate the kids about how they should behave in the larger world," Palm said.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The school believes they are the first in the nation to use the virtual pet to encourage students to live greener. It's turned into a friendly competition between dorms.
"The kids are able to touch the screen in their dorm… and see if other dorms are making the grade."
And Pasha is definitely making a difference. Some dorms have seen and twenty percent reduction in energy use, not only helping the environment, but putting a dent in the school's $800,000 a year electric bill.
The program has helped the Brooks School solve another problem - tracking just where their energy is being used. Previously they had a single electric meter that monitored the entire campus. Now they have measurements for their individual dorms.
The school plans to expand the program in the fall, adding Pasha to more buildings on campus, and making him 3-D.
As for the students, they hope their lesson will set a larger example.
"If a lot of kids start doing in, other kids at others schools will start doing it," Stillings said. "Adults will see if kids can do it, they can do it."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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