MICHIGAN PROGRAM
National Energy Foundation (NEF) has been selected by Consumers Energy, one of the nation’s leading investor-owned electric and gas utilities, to conduct an energy efficiency education program targeted to grades 4-6. One component of Consumers Energy’s 2009-2014 Energy Optimization Plan, the program has been designed to produce measurable electricity and natural gas savings, while also providing a quality energy education experience for Michigan students and teachers. Consumers Energy is headquartered in Jackson, Michigan.

NEF is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Programs Team. This Michigan group will be responsible for implementing a new energy efficiency education program, THINK! ENERGY with Consumers Energy. The program will be presented to more than 13,000 teachers and students in grades 4-6 during March and April, 2010.

SOLAR, WIND, GEOTHERMAL POSTERS
NEF has begun completion of the third and final poster of the renewable energy sources poster project. The Geothermal Energy poster will be available shortly for purchase. NEF's new Solar Energy and Wind Energy are available for purchase now. For more information on any of the posters or any of NEF’s materials, please contact Ty Stark at ty@nef1.org or 800-616-8326. The posters may also be purchased online at www.shop.nef1.org

ENERGY BY DESIGN
Nicor Gas and NEF have again teamed up to facilitate the Energy By Design student poster contest. The contest, in its fourth year, received over 1,300 entries this year from 94 teachers, both of which are records for entries. Preliminary judging was held February 16th at NEF headquarters in Salt Lake City. The winners will be determined at the final judging set to take place on March 15th in Naperville, IL. NEF would like to thank Nicor Gas for their continued support and partnership of the Energy By Design Contest.

ENERGY SAFE KIDS POSTER SLOGAN CONTEST
“ Think Smart, you have the power to be safe” is the wining slogan for Vectren’s Energy Safe Kids Program. This catchy slogan submitted by Mr. Eric Carson’s class, J. Culver Elementary, Evansville IN , provides the theme for the poster and professional song created for the participating teachers and students in the ESK Program. Over 500 classrooms submitted their slogan ideas and the bright students at Culver Elementary will be inspiring young students all over Vectren's service area to “Think Smart” about their energy. (image)

JOHNSON CONTROLS TEACHER WORKSHOP
Houghton-Portage Towhship School District hosted a Johnson Controls Academy of Energy workshop, facilitated by National Energy Foundation on February 24, 2010. The Academy Wind, Academy Solar and Energy Action Technology teacher training featured topics covering progressive renewable energy concepts, including:

Energy for Electricity
History of Wind Power
Uses of Wind Power
Building Wind Turbines
History of Solar Power
Solar Thermal
Solar Thermal Electric
Photovoltaics
Series and parallel circuits
Careers
Nuclear Energy
Hydrogen
Energy Efficiency
An Energy Action Challenge for the teachers and students.

UTAH ADULT PROGRAM SPACE HEATER EXCHANGE
Many state of Utah employees have recently given up their energy consuming space heaters for a blanket. This popular program sponsored by the Think! Energy Employee Energy Efficiency Partnership and Division of Facilities Construction and Management, has been successful in moving over 261 space heaters out of their buildings.

THINK! ENERGY PROGRAMS
The Think! Energy programs in Pennsylvania and Indiana have finished implementation in classrooms for the year. NEF is pleased to report the total students and teachers reached with each program. In it’s second year, the Think! Energy with e-power program was presented in 100 schools, to 124 teachers and reached 11,111 students.

PPL Electric Utilities, Allentown, PA: 100 schools, 11,111 teachers and students
UGI Utilities, Reading, PA: 20 schools, 1,720 teachers and students
Vectren, Evansville, IN: 151 schools, 2,030 teachers and students
NIPSCO, Merrillville, IN: 23 schools, 2,030 teachers and students
Indianapolis Power & Light and Citizens Energy Group, Indianapolis, IN: 35 schools, 3,225 teachers and students

National Energy Foundation would like to thank PPL Electric Utilities, UGI Utilities, Vectren, NIPSCO, Indianapolis Power and Light and Citizens Energy Group for their sponsorship of the Think! Energy programs and for their continued support in energy education.