Austin Reid Excels in Energy Contest

Submitted release 

Canton Middle School 8th grader Austin Reid placed third in his class in the 8th annual eesmarts™student contest for students in grades K-12.  

The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, in partnership with The Connecticut Light & Power Company and The United Illuminating Company, sponsored the contest. 

The contest gave Connecticut students the opportunity to showcase their “energysmarts” about saving energy by answering grade level-specific prompts regarding energy efficient and renewable energytechnologies and sustainability through various media forms, including poems, songs, news articles, essays, artwork/posters, and television commercials.

A ceremony was recently held in the Old Judiciary Room of the Connecticut State Capitol and attracted over 120 students, parents and energy efficiency supporters in celebration of the students’ hard work and efforts to raise awareness of energy efficiency, and clean/renewable energy technologies.  Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Dan Esty, and Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund First Vice-Chairman Richard W. Steeves were on hand to congratulate the winners, and WFSB Channel 3 Meteorologist Mark Dixon served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

“Energy efficiency is a central focus of the energy agenda being set by Governor Malloy because of the tremendous cost savings it makes possible for homeowners and businesses all across our state,” Esty said.  “The eesmarts™ statewide initiative for students K-12 plays an important part in building greater awareness of the benefits ofenergy efficiency and in stimulating the thinking of young people, who, after all, will be the key to developing the energysolutions of the future.”