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      <title>Energy Conservation and Cost Savings Tips by Shannon Hardy _ Staff - WakeMensAcademy</title>
      <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi</link>
      <description>Driving Question: 
What are WYMLA&#39;s opportunities to decrease our impact on climate change while increasing utility savings and cost to taxpayers?
</description>
      <language>en-us</language>
      <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:17 UTC</pubDate>
      <lastBuildDate>2025-02-03 05:53:58 UTC</lastBuildDate>
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         <title>Understanding Your Electric Bill</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123859</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Want to save money on electricity? First, you need to understand your bill! This helpful guide from Energy.gov breaks down each component of your electricity bill and explains peak vs. off-peak hours. Share this with your students' families to help them start their energy-saving journey.]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:19 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Smart Thermostats - A Wise Investment</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123860</link>
         <description><![CDATA[After implementing a smart thermostat in my classroom, our energy bills dropped by 15%! These devices learn your schedule and automatically adjust temperatures. The EPA estimates that proper use of a programmable thermostat can save about $180 per year in heating and cooling costs.]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:19 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>LED Lighting Revolution</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123873</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Making the switch to LED bulbs in my classroom was a game-changer! While they cost more upfront, LEDs use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Check out this Energy Star guide on choosing the right LED bulbs.]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:20 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Phantom Load Warriors</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123875</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Did you know that electronics continue to draw power even when turned off? This 'phantom load' can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill! Teach your students about using power strips and unplugging devices when not in use. We made it a classroom job to check all outlets before leaving!]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:20 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Summer Cooling Strategies</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123906</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Keep your cooling costs down with these simple tips: Use ceiling fans (counterclockwise in summer), close blinds during peak sun hours, and schedule regular AC maintenance. The Department of Energy estimates these habits can reduce cooling costs by up to 25%!]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:22 UTC</pubDate>
         <guid>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123906</guid>
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         <title>Winter Energy Wisdom</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123919</link>
         <description><![CDATA[In my classroom, we developed a winter conservation checklist: seal drafty windows, reverse ceiling fans (clockwise in winter), and maintain a consistent temperature. These simple steps helped us reduce our heating costs significantly while keeping everyone comfortable.]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:23 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Energy Star Appliance Calculator</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123936</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Looking to replace old appliances? Use this fantastic calculator from Energy Star to estimate your potential savings. We used this tool in our math class to calculate real-world savings - it's a great way to combine practical life skills with mathematics!]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:24 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Home Energy Audit Apps</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313123937</link>
         <description><![CDATA[Try these user-friendly apps to conduct your own home energy audit. My students loved using these tools for their science projects, and many families reported finding easy ways to reduce their energy consumption after using them.]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:34:24 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>WCPSS ENERGY &amp; PHYSICAL PLANT</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313125583</link>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:36:35 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Benchmarking K-12 Utility Data</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:37:58 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Common Sense Energy</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:38:47 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Building a Zero Energy House</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313130620</link>
         <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:42:28 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Dustin Brugmann, Gensler Architect</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313131869</link>
         <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:43:58 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>Passive Solar Design</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
         <link>https://padlet.com/srhardy/2zqrpcw4vu0pjrsi/wish/3313137541</link>
         <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:51:26 UTC</pubDate>
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         <title>NC Clean Energy Plan 2050</title>
         <author>srhardy</author>
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         <pubDate>2025-02-03 05:53:57 UTC</pubDate>
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