A villain is lurking in homes across Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s (REC) service territory, and the Cooperative is recruiting young heroes to help defeat him, as rising power costs place greater pressure on household budgets.
Meet Volty, the Voltage Villain. He feeds on wasted electricity: lights left on in empty rooms, chargers plugged in around the clock and televisions running when no one is watching. When families make smart energy choices, Volty loses his power.
Through REC’s Power Saver Heroes program, children can take on Volty and three other Voltage Villains — Watthog, Frostbite and Inferno — while learning simple habits that can help their families use energy wisely and save money.
REC is taking on Volty in communities throughout its service territory, through partnerships with schools, libraries, festivals and other family-friendly events.
More than 200 children and family members attended a July 25 Back-to-School Bash in Culpeper featuring about 25 vendors, school supplies, food and activities.
REC employee Toshua Jackson, who helped with the event, said Volty provided a natural way to attract children and introduces them to energy conservation.
“Kids are drawn to Volty because he’s a fun character,” Jackson said. “He gives them a reason to come over, learn more and check out the activities focused on saving energy to save money.”
That interaction stood out to Asia Washington, who attended with her 2-year-old son, August.
“At some places you go, not a lot of people engage with kids,” Washington said. “I absolutely love it. It definitely keeps him entertained.”
Families will have more opportunities to meet Volty this fall, with upcoming appearances at:
- The Louisa Biz Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at Fifty-Third Winery & Vineyard in Louisa
- The disAbility Resource Center’s Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds
- Bowling Green Harvest Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on Main Street in Bowling Green.
And the fun doesn’t have to stop when families leave an event.
Anyone age 17 and younger can join the Power Saver Heroes challenge by completing four energy-saving quests with their families. After each mission, a parent or guardian submits the child’s progress online, unlocking the next challenge. Power Saver Heroes earn a collectible trading card for each villain they defeat, and those who complete all four quests can earn an Voltage Villain plushie while supplies last.
Along the way, children practice simple actions such as turning off unused lights and electronics, unplugging chargers and looking around the home for other ways electricity may be going to waste.
Small changes can lead to big savings! Parents and guardians can help turn an encounter with Volty into lasting energy-saving habits. By working together, you and your family can become the heroes of your own home, making simple changes that save energy and help lower your energy costs. Take the challenge and help defeat Volty — one energy-saving habit at a time! Look around the house together for wasted electricity, start the first quest and see whether your young hero can defeat all four villains.
Ready to join the mission? Visit myrec.coop/heroes to meet the Voltage Villains, start Quest 1 and learn how your child can become a Power Saver Hero.
