GEA representatives had the opportunity today to participate in the 5th Grade Conservation Camp at Hardin Park, where approximately 200 fifth-grade students from across the Greene County school system, along with several homeschool students, gathered to learn about conservation and the ways they can make a difference in their community.
During the event, GEA talked with students about simple conservation practices they can use every day to help conserve electricity, support the power grid, and even save money on their monthly electric bills.
Students learned how electricity is generated and distributed to our community through the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). We also discussed the many ways GEA works to protect wildlife and reduce wildlife-related outages on our electric system.
Wildlife is the second most common cause of outages on the GEA system. Students were able to see examples of some of the protective devices GEA uses on the electric system to help deter wildlife and protect both the animals and our equipment.
We also shared some simple ways students and their families can conserve electricity at home, including:
- Using LED light bulbs
- Closing blinds or curtains to help manage indoor temperatures
- Turning off lights and electronics when they are not needed
- Keeping doors closed when heating or cooling the home
- Taking shorter showers to reduce the energy needed to heat water
While conservation often makes us think about electricity, we also talked about conservation when it comes to GEA Connect and our fiber internet network.
Calling 811 before digging is one important way customers, contractors, and property owners can help protect underground infrastructure. Properly calling in locates helps prevent underground fiber lines from being damaged, which can result in costly repairs, service interruptions, and additional truck rolls. Protecting existing infrastructure also helps conserve the time, fuel and resources required to make those repairs.
We also took the opportunity to discuss an issue we have seen increase since dove hunting season opened: damage to fiber lines caused by gunfire. We reminded students about the importance of practicing safe hunting habits and being aware of utility infrastructure when out in the field. Damaged fiber lines can result in costly repairs and service interruptions, making awareness and safety important for everyone.
The students were engaged, asked great questions, and were a pleasure to spend time with throughout the event. We appreciate the opportunity to help educate the next generation about conservation, electricity, wildlife protection, and the infrastructure that helps keep our community connected.
A special thank you to Jessie Beth Miller, Director of Keep Greene Beautiful, Leadership, Youth, and Community Programs at the Greene County Partnership, for inviting GEA to participate, as well as everyone who helped organize and make the 5th Grade Conservation Camp possible.
We enjoyed spending time with the students and look forward to continuing to support educational opportunities throughout our community.
