Students Power Energy Savings

For students and staff at the historic Kate Duncan Smith Daughters of the American Revolution School, a brighter future has arrived.

The key? A dedicated team of high schoolers and an inspiring teacher who helped them take energy savings into their own hands.

With the challenge of aging buildings at their Alabama campus, this group didn't wait for solutions to come by chance.

They launched a campus-wide energy efficiency program that included classroom lessons, energy pep rallies and carefully coordinated actions designed to conserve energy during school breaks.

And their efforts paid off.

TVA EnergyRight’s School Uplift program has awarded the school $210,000 in grants for energy efficiency improvements.

Kate Duncan Smith Daughters of the American Revolution School in Grant, Alabama, was established in 1924 for the people of Gunter Mountain.

Great Energy Savings

School Uplift helps schools reduce energy consumption by identifying energy-saving behaviors. In summer, engineers visit participating schools for a high-level energy audit that helps reveal low- or no-cost opportunities to improve efficiency and lower expenses.

Each school then forms an energy team made up of passionate students who work under the guidance of a champion faculty member. Together, they lead energy efficiency improvements at their school while encouraging greater awareness about energy use.

“A lot of people have no idea what their energy usage looks like on a school campus," Jen Hathaway, TVA EnergyRight’s School Uplift energy coach, said. "It's important to spread that awareness."

This year, TVA has awarded $2,340,000 to 98 schools in the enterprise’s seven-state region.

After a year in School Uplift, each participating school is awarded a $10,000 learning environment grant. Based on performance and engagement, 10 schools receive $25,000 learning grants.

There’s also an opportunity for schools to earn an additional $200,000 need-based grant for energy upgrades.

Winning schools can use the money for significant energy savings, ultimately freeing up money for educational programs.

Kate Duncan Smith energy champion Laurie Gluck’s senior environmental science class completed a research project focusing on energy efficiency in other countries.

A Century of Learning

For more than a century, students have been sharpening their minds in the classrooms at Kate Duncan Smith in Grant, Alabama.

But that rich history also comes with aging infrastructure and building features that can hinder energy efficiency.

Those elements – paired with the brilliant work of students in the School Uplift program – are why the campus received one of six $200,000 building energy update grants after the 2024-25 School Uplift program.

“We have a historic school,” Laurie Gluck, energy champion at Kate Duncan Smith, said. “We have some older air conditioners. We have some older lights. This grant is going to give us the necessary upgrades that we need.”

As the faculty and staff begin to implement projects – high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lights, upgraded building insulation and student-led sustainability clubs – it should lead to noticeable improvements for everyone.

“These projects are expected to significantly reduce utility costs and improve indoor air quality, directly impacting student focus, attendance and teacher satisfaction,” Larry Bolin, Kate Duncan Smith High School principal, said.

The energy team helped spread awareness of energy efficiency by hanging TVA-branded posters throughout the school.

Future Energy Leaders

For students on Kate Duncan Smith’s energy team, the School Uplift program presented a new and engaging way to learn.

“I thought it was a neat opportunity for our school to be involved and to bring something to the school that we don’t have, which is energy awareness,” Gluck said. “I don’t think that the students were very aware about energy initially.”

Through energy scavenger hunts and distribution of energy-efficient light bulbs, the students quickly learned the importance of their work.

“Conservation of energy is something that is very important because energy costs money," said Aubrey Goble, a Kate Duncan Smith energy team student member. “If you turn off lights or use less electricity, you can save on your energy bill. It really helps the environment, too.”

Beyond the significant investment in energy efficiency, the project also sparked a valuable educational journey for students – a benefit that’ll last for years.

“We’re giving them the power to learn about where their energy comes from and the things that they do to use energy,” Gluck said. “It’s kind of helped us to become better. And that’s what we strive to do every day – just be better.”

Students on Kate Duncan Smith’s energy team form an energy pyramid – a fun visual that represents small energy savings that build into bigger impacts.

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: The Kate Duncan Smith energy team practiced school-wide energy efficiency actions during spring and winter breaks.