Those familiar, twisty, energy-efficient compact florescent lightbulbs hadn't even been invented in the 1950s.
But by riffing on the familiar style of 1950s sitcoms, a team of Pitman High School students designed an award-winning public service announcement discussing the benefits of CFLs.
The winning advertisement was designed for TID's “Take Action” Energy Efficiency Video Contest.
“The purpose of this contest is to involve high school students in energy efficiency, helping them understand how they can reduce their energy consumption while having fun at the same time,” said TID spokesperson Michelle Reimers.
Students had three energy-efficient choices for video topics: swapping out CFLs, planting shade trees, or recycling old refrigerators. Submissions were judged by a five-member panel on accuracy, creativity, use of appropriate humor, and cinematography.
The winning group of Pitman High School students put a 1950s perfect family spin on their energy efficiency video, which focuses on the myriad benefits of CFLs.
“The group was creative, the message was clear, and it was actually very entertaining to watch,” Reimers said. “… What we were expecting was good. What we received was exceptional.”
The entry was so exceptional, in fact, that the district is now considering showing the PSA to wider audiences than originally planned. TID might screen the advertisement before movies at the Turlock Regal Stadium 14 movie theater, Reimers said.
The winning students – Karandip Basra, Barbara Beasley, Andrew Cheeman, Luke Gonzales, Chris Hernandez and Ashlyn Inman – will split a $1,000 prize for their efforts. TID will also award Pitman High School $3,000.
“It’s important to be fiscally and environmentally responsible, and this video created a way to
encourage that message to a younger generation,” said Pitman High School teacher Andy Walker, who oversaw the project. “These students did an outstanding job. We were not sure what we would get, but the
creative results were great.”
In this, the competition's first year, just seven entries were received from three high schools. A team from Hilmar High School claimed second place with a video about refrigerators, and a second Pitman High video about CFLs claimed third.
TID hopes to bring the contest back next year, adding more high schools to double the number of entries.
“I am hoping that with the release of the winning video we will encourage more schools to participate next year,” said Monique Hampton, TID Utility Analyst-Energy Resources.
The first place video, “Environmental PSA,” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjCG6BJoO4
The second place video, “Recycling is Energy Encouraged,” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhEb8WARL58
The third place video, “An 'Unexpected Flicker,'” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mz_6j9j9vM
