Print edition: 
Tyson Peterson used up some of his 12-year-old energy at an energy conference on Saturday.
The sixth-grader at Maize South Middle School made a balsa-wood airplane, wrote a couple of short essays and earned two Boy Scout merit badges during the conference at Century II.
Among other things, he studied endangered species and the effects of the Lincoln Street bridge and dam repair project on the environment.
In general, Tyson said, he learned “how does energy affect different stuff.”
Which, basically, was what the Kansas Preservation, Energy and Sustainability Conference was all about.
The event drew nearly 600 people and featured 85 vendor booths.
It offered tips for businesses and the public on saving money and conserving energy. It featured information on how to grow vegetables, reduce idling in your car, and improve home heating and air systems. There were tips on recycling and renovating homes for energy efficiency. The event also featured a display of energy-efficient vehicles, including electric cars.
Small facts emerged. For example, one inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof can yield up to 623 gallons of fresh rainwater.
That fact came from Peter Daniels, owner of Wichita Rain Barrels, a side business Daniels started in 2007 to collect and save water. He got the idea while watching a show on cable TV’s Green Channel.
“This is not a business I ever thought I’d be in,” Daniels said. “I wanted one and I couldn’t find them locally for sale.”
So he designed one himself and now makes his barrels out of recycled materials.
The city of Wichita started the event four years ago with a federal grant that expires this year, and hopes to keep the conference going as more people realize that energy efficiency can save money, said council member Janet Miller.
“We do hope to continue it and grow it,” she said. “It’s starting to catch a following.”
In addition to learning about the Lincoln Street bridge, Tyson Peterson said he learned some tricks to conserve energy.
He learned, for example, that his mother, Janette, can turn off the water heater at his home to make him get out of the shower.
“I take a long shower,” he said.
