Abbott Tech wins energy award

DANBURY -- Connecticut Light & Power announced Friday afternoon on Twitter that Henry Abbott Technical High School had won the "Live Green -- Win Green" People's Choice Award for its environmentally conscious video.

The young filmmakers will now advance to the contest finals and a chance to win a $20,000 grant for their school, said Mitch Gross, a spokesperson for CL&P.

Three honorable mentions of $5,000 each will also be awarded, according to the contest rules.

All 16 schools that participated had to submit a video no more than two minutes long and an essay of fewer than 1,000 words.

In the videos and essays, students had to say why and how CL&P should help their schools become more green, the rules said. Once materials were submitted, people voted for their favorite school on CL&P's website between March 1 and 15.

Gross said the grant is awarded to help a school make environmental improvements.

The grand prize winner and honorable mentions will be determined by a panel of judges comprised of CL&P and community leaders, Gross said, and will be announced in April.

"The Live Green -- Win Green" competition was created to build "green awareness" in high school students throughout the state and to reward schools that are already becoming greener, contest rules said.

Abbott Tech Principal Jerry Salese hadn't heard the news as of 3 p.m., but he said if the tweet was true it was "unbelievable."

Gross confirmed the tweet was true. He said Abbott Tech won the award last year as well and will be the first defending champion to re-enter the contest.

With the help of last year's grant, Salese said solar panels and a greenhouse were installed at the high school. An energy-efficient house is also in the works.

sdavis@newstimes.com; 203-731-3331; twitter.com/StacyDavisNT

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Abbott-Tech-wins-energy-award-3430325.php

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