Oakland, CA. – February 7, 2012 – In late 2011 the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), the nation’s leading climate science education organization, launched its national Biggest Loser: Energy competition and 21 high schools across California raced to reduce their schools’ energy use.

Through the competition, schools were challenged to do an initial audit of their energy use, devise creative ways to reduce their energy consumption, and measure their impact in a final energy audit.

In just 20 days, 60 student-led teams from across the country entered the competition and accomplished the following results through auditing classrooms and eliminating energy vampires such as lights, TVs, computers, and appliances.

206,000+ pounds of carbon dioxide saved from entering the atmosphere

151,000+ kilowatt hours of electricity conserved

$15,000+ saved in energy costs

590 students and nearly 700 teachers involved

In California, two teams took home the title of regional winners. Northern California’s regional winner was Clayton Valley High School in Concord. They enrolled 43 classrooms in the contest, shed 10,592 pounds of CO2 and saved $785 in just 20 days!

Farther south, Franklin High School in Los Angeles also won a prize for shedding 12,239 pounds of CO2 and saving their school $907. The schools won $500 each for their green efforts.

Throughout the contest, students showcased their creativity as they slashed carbon emissions. On the last Tuesday of the energy “weigh-in,” where schools measured their energy use over the past week, students at Placerville High School in Auburn hosted a “school black-out day.” On this day, students convinced many teachers to teach without the use of electricity or classroom lights. Their environmental club also dressed in black, spread the word through loudspeaker announcements and held a school-wide potluck.

The Biggest Loser: Energy competition will continue in spring 2012. With less than one month of school under their belts in spring 2012, more than 49 student teams have enrolled in the contest. ACE expects schools will realize significant energy savings by June 2012.

ACE’s work in California is possible because of the generosity of its statewide supporters, including the Walmart Foundation.

“At Walmart, we are encouraged by the innovative spirit of these students and are honored to have supported such a tremendous endeavor,” said Debbie Rood, Regional General Manager of Walmart. “Through environmental efforts, the students, their advisors, and ACE are working diligently to help all of us live better, more fulfilled lives.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Walmart Foundation to motivate students across the California to reduce carbon emissions while saving money and having fun,” said Pic Walker, executive director, ACE. “We’ve found that high school students are effectively rallying their community around solving climate change through creative projects, and I’m so impressed what they have achieved. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish this spring!”

ABOUT ACE

Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) is the national leader in high school climate education. ACE educates students through a free award-winning in-person multimedia assembly presenting climate science that sticks; ACE inspires students to lower their emissions and raise their voices; and ACE activates students to take on carbon-reducing projects. ACE has reached more than 1 million high school students at more than 1,500 schools nationwide since 2009.

ACE is headquartered in Oakland, California, with educators in New York, New England, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Wisconsin, Northern California, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and North Carolina. To learn more, visit acespace.org.

ABOUT PHILANTHROPY AT WALMART 

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion cash and in-kind through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.