Olentangy Students Are Helping Central Ohio Families Lower Their Energy Bills

Four Olentangy Liberty High School students have already distributed 200 energy-saving kits to Delaware County families, proving that practical community service can begin with one small idea.

Rising utility bills are hitting Central Ohio families at a time when nearly everything else already costs more.

Groceries.

Insurance.

Housing.

Property taxes.

Transportation.

And now, for many households, electricity.

It is easy to look at a problem that big and assume only utility companies, regulators, or elected officials can make a difference.

Four students at Olentangy Liberty High School decided to start smaller.

They created Optimizing Responsible Energy Solutions, better known as ORES, a student-led initiative providing energy-saving kits to local families who need them.

Each kit contains simple products designed to reduce wasted electricity and help a home operate more efficiently.

This is not a theoretical school project.

The students have already distributed 200 kits to Delaware County families through a partnership with United Way of Delaware County. NBC4’s report, syndicated by AOL, details how the students turned their research into direct community action.

And I think that deserves some attention.

Who Created ORES?

ORES was formed by four Olentangy Liberty students:

• Mihika Narayan

• Camryn Harris

• Vihaan Narayan

• Chase Peterson

Mihika Narayan and Harris began exploring local energy issues while researching legislation related to data centers for speech and debate.

Instead of allowing the issue to remain buried under statistics and political language, they started thinking about the families seeing higher numbers on their monthly electric bills.

They knew they could not solve the entire energy debate.

They could, however, help some families reduce the amount of energy being wasted inside their homes.

That became the foundation for ORES.

It is a good reminder that meaningful service does not always begin with a massive organization or a perfect long-term plan.

Sometimes it begins when someone looks at a problem and asks:

What can we realistically do right now?

What Is Inside Each Energy-Saving Kit?

Each ORES kit includes:

• Four LED light bulbs

• Weatherstripping

• A timed power strip

These are not flashy products, but each one addresses a common source of household energy use.

LED light bulbs

LED bulbs require less electricity and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that LEDs offer lower electricity use and longer lifespans than older lighting options. U.S. Department of Energy

Replacing one bulb will not transform a household budget overnight.

Replacing frequently used bulbs throughout a home can still reduce electricity consumption over time.

Weatherstripping

Small gaps around exterior doors allow heated and cooled air to escape.

That means your furnace or air conditioner may need to work harder to keep the home comfortable.

Weatherstripping is an inexpensive way to seal some of those gaps, particularly in older homes or around doors that no longer close as tightly as they once did.

Timed power strips

Electronics can continue drawing electricity while plugged in, even when they are not actively being used.

Timed power strips can automatically turn connected devices off during hours when they are not needed.

Again, this is not a dramatic renovation.

It is a small change designed to reduce unnecessary energy use consistently.

How Did Students Pay for 200 Kits?

ORES secured $8,500 in grant funding.

That included:

• A $7,500 grant from the Carnegie Young Leaders Program

• A $1,000 Karma for Cara Youth Grant

According to the students, the funding went toward assembling the kits.

The original cost was approximately $40 per kit. After adjusting the products and quantities, the students reduced that cost to about $30.

That matters because every dollar saved on one kit can help the program reach more families.

It also shows that ORES is doing more than handing out supplies.

The students are evaluating cost, usefulness, and impact just like a responsible nonprofit or business would.

The Families Helped Improve the Kits

One of my favorite parts of this project is that the students listened to the people receiving the kits.

Families reported that they were more likely to use the LED bulbs and power strips than the weatherstripping.

ORES responded by reducing the amount of weatherstripping and directing more of its funding toward the products families were most likely to use.

That is smart community service.

It is tempting to decide what people need without asking them.

ORES treated the first distributions as an opportunity to learn, then adjusted the program based on actual feedback.

The students are also exploring potential partnerships with independent energy-audit companies after families asked about identifying which parts of their homes consume the most electricity.

That could take the program from distributing general tools to helping families better understand their individual homes.

Why Are Central Ohio Families Talking About Energy Costs?

Central Ohio is experiencing enormous growth, including the rapid development of data centers.

These facilities create investment and economic activity, but they also require tremendous amounts of electricity.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has warned that the growth of data centers could contribute to higher electric costs for Ohio households if infrastructure and power-generation expenses are not allocated carefully. Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel

Data centers are not the only factor affecting utility bills, and every household’s bill is different.

Weather, energy rates, home size, insulation, equipment efficiency, and personal habits all play a role.

Still, the broader conversation matters.

When Central Ohio celebrates major economic-development projects, we also need to ask how the infrastructure required to support that growth will affect existing residents.

Economic development can bring jobs and opportunity.

It can also place pressure on roads, housing, water, utilities, schools, and household budgets.

We need to be honest about both sides.

Why This Matters to Homeowners and Buyers

Utility costs are part of housing affordability.

A mortgage payment may be the largest monthly housing expense, but it is not the only one.

Homeownership costs may also include:

• Property taxes

• Homeowners insurance

• HOA or condominium fees

• Electricity

• Natural gas

• Water and sewer

• Maintenance and repairs

Two similarly priced homes can have very different monthly operating costs.

An older home with air leaks, aging windows, limited insulation, and inefficient mechanical systems may cost considerably more to heat and cool than a newer or updated home of similar size.

That does not automatically make the older home a bad purchase.

It means buyers should consider more than the sale price.

Ask for available utility histories.

Look at the age and condition of the furnace, air conditioner, water heater, windows, and insulation.

Pay attention to drafts and temperature differences during showings.

Consider whether an energy audit would help you understand where improvements could make the biggest difference.

A beautiful house still has to work for your actual budget.

Five Small Energy Checks You Can Do at Home

The ORES project is built around a simple principle: small improvements can matter.

Here are five places homeowners can start:

1. Check your most frequently used light bulbs

Prioritize the kitchen, living room, exterior lights, and other fixtures that stay on for several hours.

2. Look for air gaps around exterior doors

On a windy day, slowly move your hand around the doorframe and check for noticeable drafts.

3. Review devices that remain plugged in

Televisions, gaming systems, chargers, office equipment, and other electronics may continue using power while idle.

4. Check your thermostat schedule

Make sure your heating and cooling schedule still matches when your household is actually home, awake, or sleeping.

5. Compare your energy use over time

Do not look only at the dollar amount. Rates can change. Compare the amount of electricity used during similar months to spot changes in household consumption.

None of these steps will solve every utility-cost concern.

But they can help you understand where your money is going and identify improvements worth making.

The Bigger Story Is Student Leadership

The easiest headline is that Olentangy students are handing out energy kits.

The bigger story is that four teenagers researched a complicated local issue, secured grant funding, built a workable program, formed a community partnership, distributed 200 kits, listened to feedback, and began planning what comes next.

That is leadership.

They did not wait until they had college degrees.

They did not wait for someone older to give them permission.

They did not pretend they could fix everything.

They found one useful thing they could do and got to work.

Central Ohio needs more of that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORES?

ORES stands for Optimizing Responsible Energy Solutions. It is a student-led initiative created by four Olentangy Liberty High School students to help families reduce household energy use.

What comes in an ORES energy kit?

Each kit includes four LED light bulbs, weatherstripping, and a timed power strip.

How many kits have been distributed?

ORES distributed 200 kits to Delaware County families over the summer through a partnership with United Way of Delaware County.

How was the project funded?

The students received a $7,500 grant from the Carnegie Young Leaders Program and a $1,000 Karma for Cara Youth Grant.

How can homeowners lower their electricity use?

Common starting points include switching frequently used lights to LEDs, sealing drafts, adjusting thermostat schedules, reducing unnecessary standby power, and reviewing monthly energy consumption.

Are data centers causing higher Central Ohio electric bills?

Data centers use significant amounts of electricity and may contribute to future system and infrastructure costs. However, an individual household’s bill can be affected by many factors, including rates, weather, home efficiency, and personal usage.

Small Changes Still Count

ORES began with a realistic understanding: four high school students could not solve every issue surrounding energy policy and utility prices.

But they could help 200 families make their homes a little more efficient.

They could turn research into action.

They could listen, learn, and improve.

And they could remind the rest of us that community impact does not have to begin with something enormous.

Sometimes the most important step is simply deciding to start.

If you enjoy learning about the people, projects, and decisions shaping life in Central Ohio, bookmark my Central Ohio Blog Insights page and come back regularly at LivingInCentralOhio.com.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only. Energy savings vary by home, product, usage, rates, and installation. Consult qualified professionals before completing electrical work or significant home improvements. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, REALTOR®, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.