Library exhibit 'energizes' young visitors

CORNWALL — Here’s an interesting way to look at energy use: An exhibit at the Cornwall Library last week let visitors pretend to be the sun and play with the blocks —and end up with a different perspective on energy use in the home.

The exhibit, Conservation Quest, came from Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk and featured four hands-on displays aimed at kids, but that delighted adults as well.  It closed Aug. 3.

It was sponsored by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and was brought here by the Cornwall Energy Task Force.

During a recent visit, young Harry Martin, from Barrington, R.I., headed right for what became his favorite display: a contraption with a crank that shows how much energy it takes to light up various lightbulbs. The less energy-efficient the bulb, the more cranking it takes.

Here on an extended visit with his grandparents, Betsy and Guy Unger, he has become a big fan of the library, and visits nearly every day.

The energy exhibit is clearly part of the attraction.

Harry also likes the crank that simulates solar energy and powers a fan. He’s pretty good at a game that uses cards and buckets to test one’s knowledge of recycling.

He admitted he had not tried “How do you stack up?� yet, because he didn’t understand what he was supposed to do. But minutes later he’d figured it out and was getting into it, even showing an older couple how it’s done.

This particular game uses blocks that vary in size; they represent the kilowatt hours that different electrical devices require. The blocks are stacked in a gauge that adds up their energy use. It’s not precise, but it is an eye-opener.

Harry calculated how much energy is used by his family of six back home in Rhode Island. The gauge quickly overflowed as he added on blocks for televisions, computers, the washer and dryer, the toaster, the coffeemaker and even the aquarium heater.

“I thought we were careful about using energy,� Harry said, with an tinge of guilt in his voice.

He quickly got to work looking for ways to shrink that stack (which is the goal of the game).

The biggest user is the refrigerator. Can’t get rid of that.

“Maybe we can do without the central air,� he said, pulling out a pretty hefty block.

“We kind of need the VCR and the TV and the computer, but we can turn out some lights and maybe my sisters could use the hair dryer less,� he added with a grin.

The good news: He was able to theoretically pare his family’s above-average usage to the top end of average use.

Here’s the bad news: The exhibit was to tour area libraries. That plan has been put on hold. Conservation Quest was only in Cornwall until Aug. 3, then it moved on to other parts of the state.

It is expected to be back next summer in Salisbury and Falls Village.

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