Health & Fitness
How's the weather? Ask Eppler students - local meteorologists do
Eppler becomes an official "Weather Bug" site
Under the direction of teacher Leslie Long, Eppler Junior High seventh and eighth grade earth science students operate their own weather station, which can provide real-time weather updates to the community via the online “Weather Bug” site.
Local meteorologists also use the school’s Weather Bug information. Chances are good the temperature and weather conditions reported in the City of Utica on the 6 o’clock news originate from the school’s weather station.
The students have become adept at calculating factors such as wind speed and barometric pressure to predict weather conditions for after-school athletic contests and other activities or even when to expect the next “bad hair” day.
Green energy sources are also on the students’ radar. Solar panels and a wind turbine located in the school courtyard provide them with hands-on knowledge and experience generating solar and wind power.
In addition to the many scientific applications, such as calculating energy output, the students have also discovered the practical aspects of producing up to 1,200 watts of power on their own. For example, by plugging into the classroom inverter (which converts DC current created from solar and wind to standard AC current), they can re-charge iPads and cell phones, as well as run fans and other devices. Recently, during a brief electrical outage, their classroom was even kept illuminated by these alternative power sources.
Eppler obtained its weather station through a grant from the national Weather Bug forecasting service. The wind turbine was secured through a grant from DTE and the solar panels were donated by Sole-Air Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration – a local business.
Long said: “Using the equipment gives students a unique experience. They are able to translate the knowledge they learn from textbooks to real situations. They are also learning the real-world importance of green technologies and meteorology and beginning to think about related career possibilities.”
Seventh grader Allyson John likes knowing that wind energy will always be available as a clean energy source. Ninth grader Zac Yono added that he hopes to one day produce enough solar energy for his own needs, as well as to sell back to the utility companies!
