Students: send your contest entries

TEMECULA, Calif. — Students in grades K-12 from the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) are invited to submit ideas for the fourth annual Think Green contest, which promotes innovative ways to conserve energy in the community. All submissions must be received between March 15 and April 15. Winners will be announced at the annual Taste of Temecula Valley festival on April 30.

The Think Green contest is co-sponsored by RighTime Home Services, a residential heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical company based in Riverside, in partnership with the Temecula Education Foundation (TEF). The contest is open to all “green” ideas that explore ways to reduce the load on the energy grid and the resulting impact it would have on the community.

“We’re thrilled to be announcing the fourth annual Think Green Contest here in Temecula Valley,” stated Rick Cubas, regional manager of RighTime Riverside Divison, in a press release. “We hope to continue bringing awareness about energy conservation, while giving children the opportunity to expand their critical-thinking skills.”

One winner in each of three different categories will be selected to win cash prizes. The first place winner in the high school (grades 9-12) category earns $500; the top entry in the middle school (grades 6-8) category wins $300; and $200 is awarded to the winning submission in the elementary school (grades K-5) category. RighTime Home Services has committed to match the total prize earnings with a $1,000 donation to the TEF.

“Over the years, we’ve received some amazing entries from talented students at all levels,” Cubas added. “We can’t wait to see what this year has in store!”

To enter, students must submit an energy-saving idea in the form of a written essay, drawing, model or video. Each entry must include a thorough explanation, including the potential impact of the idea on the economy and local community. Students are also encouraged to explain how the idea could be implemented practically throughout the community. Students may submit ideas for the 2016 Think Green Contest via email at RTHSThinkGreen@boltpr.com.

Previous winners have included high school student Alexander Choi of Temecula Preparatory School, who won in 2015 for his essay discussing advancements in engineered bioluminescence as a way to reduce the overall consumption of electricity and energy.

Matthew Schork of Margarita Middle School won in 2014 for his model explaining how to turn the average home into a “green” energy-efficient home.

And Justin Magallanes of Tony Tobin Elementary won in 2015 for his drawing that illustrated how recycling trucks could use removable solar panels to power vehicles, thereby reducing smog and gas consumption.

The TEF is a nonprofit organization established in 2004 to support TVUSD students and teachers by supporting curriculum enhancement and enrichment programs, especially in the arts, and by providing increased educational opportunities. The foundation’s all-volunteer board includes local parents, business owners, community members and educators.

Visit temeculaeducationfoundation.org or email info@temeculaeducationfoundation.org for more information.

Students: send your contest entries

Fall Mountain students design solar project for local animal hospital

Fall Mountain Regional High School students turned a class project into a real-world experience.

This spring, Jay Fisher’s environmental studies class worked with local businesses to learn about renewable energy. The project culminated in a plan to install solar panels at the Claremont Animal Hospital.

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Fall Mountain students design solar project for local animal hospital

Students unveil virtual tour of solar-powered house

Team Tennessee students hope to build Harmony House for less than $200,000.(Photo: Submitted)

Like many college freshmen, Tiffany Silverstein signed up for dozens of extracurriculars when she arrived at Vanderbilt University.

One by one, many of them fell off her radar. But one intriguing option held her attention, mainly because of the enthusiasm of the other students involved and the massive challenge it presented.

Together, Team Tennessee, which includes students from Vanderbilt University and Middle Tennessee State University, is working to design and build a family home that is entirely powered by solar energy. They unveiled their design on Tuesday, along with a virtual video tour of the “green” house, which includes a roof lined with solar panels.

The next step is to construct the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home and then break it down, ship it to California and rebuild it for the 2015 Solar Decathlon competition in October sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Judges at the competition will select a winner based on design, energy production and affordability.

While designing the home, which is dubbed Harmony House, the group tried to create a home that would would be comfortable for a modern family. They included a covered front porch that allows room to entertain and a garden wall in the back to provide shade.

Designers of Harmony House aimed to create a home that would would be comfortable for a modern family.(Photo: Submitted)

Silverstein, who is now a sophomore majoring in computer engineering and math, said that working on the project for more than a year has opened her eyes to the viability of solar power on a large scale.

“The big catch for a while has been cost,” she said. “That really is changing a lot, and the world of solar power has changed so much in the last five, 10 years even.

“As more people use them, as more companies produce these things, as more people realize this is something they can do, things will get less expensive.”

The students hope to build Harmony House for less than $200,000. After the competition, they’ll donate the finished product to Habitat for Humanity, which has partnered with Team Tennessee.

“Being environmentally friendly is no longer sort of a fringe concept,” Silverstein said. “On an institutional level, Vanderbilt, MTSU and Habitat for Humanity all really care about green technology.”

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweets.

To help

Under Solar Decathlon rules, Team Tennessee must raise the money needed to build, construct and ship the house. To contribute visit http://www.teamtennessee.org and click the “donate” button.

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Students unveil virtual tour of solar-powered house