POWELL, Ohio — Four students at Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio, have launched a project aimed at helping low-income central Ohio families reduce their monthly electricity expenses amid rising energy costs across the region.

Read in Somali ↓

Mihika Narayan, Camryn Harris, Vihaan Narayan, and Chase Peterson formed Optimizing Responsible Energy Solutions (ORES). Co-founders Mihika Narayan and Harris created the group after researching energy policy and local power trends, including the rapid growth of data centers in central Ohio, which the Ohio Consumer Council notes can contribute to higher electric bills for everyday consumers.

To fund the project, ORES secured a $7,500 grant from the Carnegie Young Leaders Program alongside a $1,000 grant from the Karma for Cara Youth Grant. The group directs all grant funding directly toward assembling energy-saving supplies.

Each package contains four LED lightbulbs, exterior door weatherstripping, and a timed power strip. The selected items target widespread sources of household energy loss. According to the Department of Energy, LED bulbs use roughly 75% less energy than standard bulbs. Timed power strips help eliminate “vampire power” pulled by plugged-in devices that are not in use, while weatherstripping seals gaps on exterior doors to prevent heating and cooling loss.

Partnering with the United Way of Delaware County, the student team distributed 200 kits to local families during events over the summer, providing one kit per household.

By tweaking materials and contacting product manufacturers, the group successfully lowered the per-kit production cost from $40 to $30. Based on direct feedback from recipient families, ORES also reduced the size of the weatherstripping in order to allocate more resources toward highly requested items like LED bulbs and timed power strips.

ORES members plan to maintain the initiative throughout the school year and apply for additional grant funding. The team has also begun contacting independent home audit companies to explore potential partnerships that could offer energy audits to area families.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Ardayda Olentangy Liberty oo Xirmooyin Koronto U Qeybiyay Qoysas ku Nool Ohio

POWELL, Ohio — Afar arday oo ka tirsan dugsiga sare ee Olentangy Liberty High School oo ku yaalla magaalada Powell ee gobolka Ohio ayaa bilaabay mashruuc loogu talagalay in lagu caawiyo qoysaska dakhligoodu hooseeyo ee ku nool bartamaha gobolkaas, si ay u yareeyaan kharashka korontada ee bishii kaga baxa.

Ardaydan oo kala ah Mihika Narayan, Camryn Harris, Vihaan Narayan, iyo Chase Peterson, ayaa dhiseay koox loogu magac daray Optimizing Responsible Energy Solutions (ORES). Mihika Narayan iyo Camryn Harris ayaa ku dhiiraday samaynta mashruucan ka dib markii ay baaritaan ku sameeyeen sharciga tamarta iyo saamaynta ay xarumaha kaydinta xogta (data centers) ku leeyihiin kor u kaca qiimaha korontada ee gobolka Ohio, iyadoo Hay’adda U Dooda Macaamiisha Ohio (Ohio Consumer Council) ay sheegtay in xarumahaasi ay qayb ka yihiin kor u kaca billaha korontada ee shacabka.

Si ay mashruucan u fuliyaan, kooxda ORES ayaa deeq lacageed oo dhan $7,500 ka heshay barnaamijka Carnegie Young Leaders Program, iyadoo sidoo kale $1,000 ka heshay barnaamijka Karma for Cara Youth Grant. Dhammaan lacagahaas ayaa loo adeegsaday iibinta iyo diyaarinra xirmooyinka korontada lagaga baaqsado.

Xirmo kasta waxay ka kooban tahay afar nalal oo nooca LED-ka ah, xiraha hawada ee albaabbada laga raaciyo (weatherstripping), iyo fiilada korontada oo waqtiyaysan (timed power strip). Sida ay sheegtay Waaxda Tamarta ee Mareykanka (Department of Energy), nalalka LED-ka ayaa isticmaala 75% ka yar korontada ay isticmaalaan nalalka caadiga ah. Sidoo kale, fiilooyinka waqtiyaysan ayaa ka hortaga korontada bilaashka ku lumaysa marka aaladaha la xiro balse ay fiiladu ku jirto meeshiisa, halka xiraha albaabbadana uu ka hortago in kulaylka ama qabowgu ka baxo guriga.

Kooxda ORES waxay iskaashi la samaysay hay’adda United Way of Delaware County, iyagoo xagaagii u qeybiyay 200 oo xirmo qoysaska degan Delaware County. Ardayda ayaa ku guuleystay inay hoos u dhigaan qiimaha xirmo kasta oo markii hore ka ahayd $40 una soo dhigeen $30, ka dib markii ay wax ka beddeleen agabka iyagoo ku salaynaya ra’yiga ay ka helayeen qoysaska.

Ardayda ayaa qorshaynaysa inay barnaamijkan sii wadaan sannad-dugsiyeedkan cusub, iyagoo baadi-goobaya deeqo kale oo lacageed iyo iskaashi ay la samaysan karaan shirkadaha kormeera isticmaalka tamarta ee guryaha si ay qoysaska bartamaha Ohio uga caawiyaan badbaadinta korontada.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus