Why We Need to Save Energy
MICHAEL GRUNWALD
The United States is the world's largest consumer of energy. We use electricity, gas and oil to
light and heat our buildings and run our cars. The demand for power is growing. But we may
not need to build new power plants or drill for more oil. The best way to increase our supply of
energy is to be more efficient.
Did you know that when you leave your video-game console on, it devours more electricity
than two refrigerators? Or that compact fluorescent lightbulbs (those funny-looking, twisty
bulbs) use 75% less power than traditional lightbulbs? We have the tools to save money, reduce
pollution and even help our planet, simply by wasting less energy. The ultimate energy saver is
efficiencyousing the least amount of power possible to get work done.
As President, Barack Obama plans to make energy efficiency in America a major goal. He has
pledged to cut 15% of all energy use by the Federal Government. The U.S. is the world's largest
consumer of energy. In a speech on January 8, Obama urged Americans to take "a whole new
approach to meeting our most urgent challenges." He asked Americans to make their homes
more energy efficient. He called for 75% of government office buildings to be updated for
better efficiency. He pointed out that energy-efficient buildings and homes will save consumers
billions of dollars on energy bills. An "extra benefit," he added, will be "a cleaner, safer planet."
Hitting Rock Bottom
Gas, coal and oil are called fossil fuels. They are formed deep in the Earth, by the breakdown of
animals and plants that lived millions of years ago. It takes that long for fossil fuels to form.
Fossil fuels have been the world's main source of energy for hundreds of years. But burning
them releases dirty gases, which cause pollution.
Burning fossil fuels overloads the atmosphere with carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 and a few
other gases trap solar heat near Earth's surface. Scientists believe this is the main cause of rapid
climate change.
"We've hit rock bottom in our addiction to fossil fuels," says Ian Bowles, an environmental
official in Massachusetts. He believes we need to put a halt to our growing need for gas, oil and
coal. The easiest way to do that, Bowles says, is to be more energy efficient.
A Little Effort Goes A Long Way
There are two main ways to save energy. The first is to use more efficient machines. Hybrid cars
guzzle less gas. Newer appliances are designed to use less electricity. Today's refrigerators are
three times more efficient than those built before 1973. Laptop computers consume much less
energy than desktop computers.
The second way to save is to use machines more productively. According to the U.S.
Department of Energy, in the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power electronic
equipment is standby power. That means power flowing to plugged-in appliances whether or
not they are being used. Homeowners can avoid wasting power by pulling the plug on
appliances when they are not in use. Efficiency expert Amory Lovins argues that today's best
techniques could cut U.S. oil and gas use in half, and reduce our electricity use by three-fourths.
We don't have to sacrifice comfort or change routines to get more efficient (see "Four Ways to
Be More Efficient"). It's a matter of learning how to consume less energy to get the same
amount of heat for a shower, light for a room and power for factories.
Tom Reddoch works for the Electric Power Research Institute. This nonprofit organization
brings together scientists, engineers and other experts. The group helps address challenges in
electricity, including efficiency, health, safety and the environment. Reddoch believes "a lot of
simple answers are just sitting around waiting for us to execute."
We Can Stop Bullies!
ELIZABETH WINCHESTER
Colten Boyle, 10, knows how badly it hurts to be teased, called nasty names and left out by
other kids. "I used to get bullied a lot at my old school," he says. Classmates used words to hurt
Colten. But bullies pick on others in many ways. Sometimes the abuse is physical, like kicking,
shoving and hitting. Sometimes it takes the form of mean online or text messages.
No matter how it's done, bullying is damaging. It can cause victims and bullies to feel badly
about themselves, and can lead to other problems. Experts say that as many as one in 10
children is bullied at school. Each day, about 160,000 U.S. students miss school because they
are afraid of being harassed. Preventing bullying is an important issue for kids, parents and
teachers. Last week, almost 800 people from 42 states and eight countries attended an
International Bullying Prevention Association meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. They discussed
the latest research and ways to prevent aggressive behavior in schools.
A Bully's Bulls-Eye
Why are some kids singled out as targets for bullies? A new study suggests it has to do with
how kids act early in life. Researchers studied 1,970 children in Canada from when they were 4
months old until they turned 7. The research team found that toddlers who regularly pushed
and hit other children did not become bullies. Instead, they were more likely to be picked on.
The researchers recommend that parents and teachers start early to stop children from acting
aggressively toward others.
Some experts are not yet convinced that angry toddlers are more likely to become bully
magnets. Nancy Mullin, the director of Bullying Prevention Inc., in Natick, Massachusetts,
believes the subject needs more study. But she agrees that, as early as possible, children should
be taught how to get along with others.
Let The Bully Beware
Communities across the globe are fighting back against bullies. "Bullying has been found in
every country that has been studied," Edward Barker, an author of the Canadian study, told
TFK. He believes schools should promote kindness, communication and conflict-resolution
skills.
In the U.S., at least 39 states have laws that address bullying in schools. A variety of prevention
programs are available. But for a program to work best, "youth must be a part of the solution,"
says Stephanie Bryn, head of the Stop Bullying Now! campaign (see "How to Handle Bullies").
Kids are tackling the issue together at Rosa Parks Middle School in Olney, Maryland. Through a
program called You Have the Power!, high school students are working with 20 Rosa Parks
students to spread anti-bullying messages. "When I see someone being bullied, I sometimes
don't know what to do," admits middle schooler Haley Nachlas. "I feel this program will give me
answers."
Colten rarely sees bullying at his new school, Elrod Elementary, in Kalispell, Montana. For the
past three years, his school has participated in the Olweus (ol-vey-us) Bullying Prevention
Program. Olweus is active in schools in more than a dozen countries. It aims to get everyone
involved: teachers, administrators, students, parents, bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
Everybody works to make the school a welcoming place. "It makes the bullies think twice," says
Colten, "and the people who are getting bullied feel supported."
All Eyes on Mars
JEFFREY KLUGER
It turns out that Mars does not have a population of little green aliens. Those Martians live only
in books and movies. Still, the planet is humming with activity. Right now, six nosy little vehicles
are rolling, digging and taking pictures all over Mars's surface, or whirring around in orbit high
above. They explore the Martian soil to get clues about the planet's past. The big question: Was
there ever life on the Red Planet?
The search for life is a search for water. On September 29, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) announced big news. A laser instrument aboard the Phoenix, a craft
near Mars's north pole, had spotted snow falling through the planet's frigid sky. Martian
snowfall isn't like earthly snowfall. It fell from 2.4 miles up and appeared to vaporize before it
reached the surface. Still, Phoenix's observations help us see Mars as a world with weather. The
planet gets occasional flurries and strong winds. Clouds and fog form at night.
Two sturdy Martian rovers have also been busy. Since landing in early 2004, the golf-cart-size
Spirit and Opportunity have been on a roll. They dip into craters, drill into rocks and send back
data about what Mars is made of, and about its watery past. After years on the job,
Opportunity's robotic arm has stiffened. Controllers can no longer fully fold it up. Spirit has a
broken front wheel, so it must drive backward! But breakdowns can have unexpected benefits.
In May 2007, scientists announced the discovery of white silica (sill-ih-cuh) beneath the Martian
soil. Silica is a mineral that usually forms in the presence of water. It is one more bit of proof
that Mars was once a wet place. But the silica would never have been found if Spirit's broken
wheel hadn't dug a trench in the soil.
Also in September, NASA announced that Opportunity would wander farther than ever. The
rover is starting a trip to a crater roughly seven miles away. That's about the total amount of
ground it has covered so far. At most, Opportunity can travel about 110 yards per day. This trip
will take two years! The Mars Reconnaissance (ree-con-uh-sunce) Orbiter will guide the journey
from above.
More ships are on the way. In 2009, NASA hopes to launch a larger rover: the Mars Science
Laboratory. Another NASA orbiter craft is scheduled to take off in 2013. The European Space
Agency hopes to launch a rover in 2013. A robotic mission to gather rocks and return them to
Earth is a key NASA objective.
Will NASA ever send an astronaut to Mars? It is an exciting goal. But until that time, our robot
agents will have to do the exploring for us. So far, they are doing one amazing job.
Missions to Mars
Why the mad rush to Mars? Scientists want to know whether life ever existed on our closest
neighbor in the solar system. Each mission, from 1976 until today, has added a piece to that
puzzle.
1980
Viking II September 1976-April 1980
Viking I July 1976-November 1982
1990
Pathfinder (with Sojourner rover) July 1997-September 1997
2000
Mars Odyssey April 2001-present
Opportunity January 2004-present
Phoenix May 2008-present
2010
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter August 2005-present
Spirit January 2004-present
Mars Express Orbiter June 2003-present
Future NASA rover expected to launch in 2009. Orbiter planned for 2013.
The Lunch Crunch
VICKIE AN
Say goodbye to star fruits and kiwis. In school cafeterias across the country, cheaper basics like
apples and oranges have replaced fancy fruits on the menu. Food prices are rising at the same
time that schools are making nutrition a top priority. School districts are watching every penny,
reviewing menus and raising prices. "Providing healthful meals on a tightening budget is a big
challenge," says Katie Wilson, president of the School Nutrition Association (SNA).
The cost of nutritious lunchroom staplesosuch as milk (see "The High Price of Milk") and wholegrain breadsohas jumped 17% in the last year, according to an SNA survey. That means schools
are paying an extra 17 cents for every dollar spent. The cost of fruits and vegetables has risen
by 4%. Schools are struggling to keep nutrition on the table.
School Lunch Squeeze
More than 30 million kids buy school lunch each day. This year, three-quarters of the nation's
largest districts raised lunch prices to combat rising costs. Students now pay an average price of
$2 per meal. That's up 27 cents from a year ago. But they still get a good deal. The average cost
for schools to produce one meal has gone up 30 cents, and is now $3.
So, how do schools break even? To start, the government pays for a small part of the
difference. Schools have to make up the rest. Peggy Eller is a director of school nutrition
services in Hudson, Wisconsin. She told TFK Kid Reporter Eleanor Korum that her district is
cutting costs by using fewer paper products and serving smaller portions. Well, portion control
is one key to healthful eating!
Trimming the Menu
The push for more healthful school lunch options has grown in recent years with concerns over
children's health. Nearly one in five kids ages 6 to 19 is overweight. Kids who are seriously
overweight are classified as obese. They are at risk for heart disease and other illnesses.
Childhood obesity has prompted many states to pass wellness laws requiring schools to serve
well-balanced lunches.
Since 2004, more than 90% of all U.S. schools have trimmed the fat from lunches. Foods high in
fat, salt and sugar have been replaced by low-fat milk, fresh fruits and vegetables. Kids have
noticed. Do they like it? Sami Bailey, 12, of St. John, Washington, told TFK Kid Reporter Emily
Jones that the best thing about eating healthier meals is that it "keeps me going through the
day."
New items on lunch menus have also encouraged kids to shake up their eating habits. "It makes
it easier to try new things (at home)," Florida fifth-grader Savanna Mackey told TFK Kid
Reporter Morgan Mullings.
Positive feedback like that is what makes school lunch directors more determined than ever to
provide nutritious meals. And they can't let skyrocketing food prices get in the way. "A wellnourished child is a better-educated child," says Janey Thornton, who heads the Child Nutrition
Programs in Hardin County, Kentucky. "We'll just have to work a little bit harder and be smarter
in how we do things."
Take It from Nature
BRENDA IASEVOLI
When top engineers in Germany wanted to build a more energy-efficient car, they headed to
the natural history museum to study sleek dolphins and sharks. But it was the pudgy boxfish
that reeled them in.
"We were surprised when this clumsy-looking fish became our model for designing an
aerodynamic and fuel-efficient car," says Thomas Weber. He is the research and development
chief for the car company Daimler. An aerodynamic (air-oh-die-nam-ik) design reduces wind
drag and increases fuel efficiency.
The boxfish may look clumsy, but it can start, stop, back up and zigzag through the water with
ease. And it does all this using surprisingly little energy. Daimler's bionic car is modeled on the
fish's boxy skeletal system. Like the fish, the car is fast and maneuvers easily. It's efficient too. It
can run for 70 miles on just one gallon of fuel.
The science behind nature-inspired inventions is called biomimicry (bye-oh-mim-ick-ree). The
term comes from bio, meaning "life," and mimicry, meaning "to imitate." Biologist Janine
Benyus came up with the term. As cofounder of the Biomimicry Guild, she has worked with
cereal companies, sneaker designers and others to develop products based on nature's best
ideas.
Nature's Bright Ideas
This month, the Nature's 100 Best List will be revealed at the World Conservation Congress in
Barcelona, Spain. Benyus coauthored the list of nature-inspired designs with economist Gunter
Pauli.
In Zimbabwe, a country in southern Africa, engineers designed energy-efficient buildings
modeled on termite mounds. The buildings use vents to keep the air flowing and the
temperature cool. A company in
Atlanta, Georgia, developed a self-cleaning paint modeled on the lotus leaf. When the paint
dries, it becomes bumpy, just like the lotus leaf. Rain droplets form on the bumps and roll off,
carrying dirt along with them.
The wings of the blue morpho butterfly inspired cell-phone makers. The wings have layers of
fine scales that reflect sunlight. The result is brilliant green and blue hues. Layered mirrors are
used in cell-phone screens to produce the same colorful and glare-free effect, using very little
energy. The brighter the light, the brighter the colors displayed on the screen.
Nature has done billions of years of research. Only the best-designed products have survived.
Companies owe Mother Nature a debt for all that hard work, says Benyus. For example, a
company that models its product on humpback-whale fins should donate a portion of its profits
to the protection of ocean habitat. "It's just good manners. It's a way of saying thank you (for)
these incredible ideas that are now helping us," Benyus told TFK.
What's Next? Look Around!
For scientists and inventors, the possibilities for copying nature are limitless. Technology may
never be as efficient as nature, or as colorful. But that doesn't mean we should stop trying to
learn from the world around us. Take a walk outside. Watch a squirrel scurry up a tree. Look
closely at the veins of a leaf. Hear the birds chirping in the trees. Such seemingly small details
may help solve big problems in the future.
Changing the World
MARTHA PICKERILL
KAREN RUTTER/JOHANNESBURG
Bushwick is a tough place to grow up. This part of Brooklyn, in New York City, has a lot of crime.
More than half of its 100,000 residents rely on aid from the government. Only 50% of students
at Bushwick High School graduate in four years. Some people might say, "We should help these
poor kids who have so many challenges."
But Malaak Compton-Rock looks at the teens in Bushwick and says, "Go help kids who have
even bigger challenges than you do." She believes that once young people see the power they
have to make things better, they can handle their own problems more easily. So her service
group, the Angel Rock Project, took 30 Bushwick kids to Soweto (so-way-toh), in South Africa, to
help poor families there. Soweto is a township outside the city of Johannesburg. The effort,
called Journey for Change, aims to show that any kid can change the world.
"Kids in Bushwick face pressure to drop out of school or become involved in gangs and drugs,"
Compton-Rock told TFK. She and her husband, the comedian Chris Rock, want to help these
teens gain the skills they need to succeed. "We want them to live a life of purpose and service,"
says Compton-Rock.
Helping and Healing
In Soweto, many parents have died of AIDS, a deadly disease. When that happens, a
grandparent or a child must lead the family. The Bushwick volunteers helped such families.
They tended vegetable gardens, cared for babies and bought groceries.
"The saddest thing was when we visited an orphanage and I held a little boy who had been
abandoned because he had HIV," says Queen Clyde, 12. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. "It's
been good to be on this trip. But what's also important is what we do when it's finished, when
people aren't looking. That's what counts." The trip was two weeks long. But the kids, ages 12
to 15, will spend all year speaking about their experience, fund-raising and more.
A New Attitude
"I never appreciated what I had until I saw some people who had nothing," says Sadara Lewis,
12. "It's really changed my attitude. I want to make a difference."
Nathabise Mohlopwa (nah-ta-bee-say moc-lop-wah), 17, is an orphan who leads her family. She
played with the Journey for Change kids, and they helped her care for her family. She smiled as
she said, "We love you guys, and hope you will come back."
Donovan Rogers, 13, took many photos in South Africa. He says that the trip changed his life. "I
cried so many times behind my camera lens. I never thought I could help others, but now I am
inspired to help my community."