Westar offers school programs for teaching energy efficiency School is in full swing and one of the hot topics this year in science, social studies and math classes is energy conservation and energy efficiency. If you're a teacher or know of a teacher looking for an exciting lesson plan for their students, Westar Energy's EfficiencyWorks department can help. We've created a turnkey lesson plan for teaching energy efficiency concepts to all grade levels. The lesson plan includes the following: A video on how to use energy more wisely (K-8) or how electricity is produced (9-12). Grade-appropriate activity books. A lesson plan that encourages grades K-4 to keep a week-long energy diary. A lesson plan for grades 5-12 that gives them the opportunity to conduct their own home energy assessment. An in-class presentation from a Westar employee. An energy-saving gift for each student and an opportunity for teachers to win a classroom grant. For more information about our school programs, please E-mail Sherii Farmer or call her at 316.261.6875. To schedule a classroom presentation please E-mail Katie Rex or call her at 316.261.6585. Winter Weatherization Tips Open shades or drapes during the day on sun exposed windows. Close them at night. Don't block vents with furniture or draperies. Close vents and doors in unused rooms. Close the fireplace damper when not in use. Have your furnace or heat pump serviced. Change filters once a month or when needed. If you're already thinking about Christmas decorations, consider using LED Christmas Lights instead of traditional lights. For information on winterizing your home, request a Free copy of our "Saving Energy at Home" DVD. Customer Service Q&A Can I put a small wind turbine in my backyard or a solar panel on my roof and sell electricity back to Westar Energy? Westar purchases excess energy (kWh's) that a customer's system feeds back through the meter into Westar's grid at a rate of 150% the cost of fuel. Westar Energy's self-generation requirements.