Show, Not Tell
New Jersey Natural Gas inspires energy efficiency with ‘Don’t Hog Energy!’ video contest
It’s official: Amy Kaszuba of Manahawkin, New Jersey, is this year’s winner of the New Jersey Natural Gas “Don’t Hog Energy!” Video Contest. She earned the top honor and a $10,000 grand prize with her stylized animated video that transforms “The Efficient Fable of the Big Bad Energy Hog” into an engaging and educational experience for young students.
Designed to inspire creativity and promote energy-conscious thinking, NJNG’s video contest ran from May 6 to November 15, 2024, and invited participants 18 and older to create a four- to nine-minute animated video effectively conveying the story of three wolves who take steps to save energy and protect the environment, while their nemesis, the Energy Hog, attempts to thwart their efforts with wasteful habits. The story, by the national nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, is designed to teach sustainability and energy conservation themes to K-5 through second-grade students.
Kaszuba’s original artwork brings the fable to life in a fun and visually compelling way, making energy conservation education both entertaining and accessible to young learners. The NJNG’s Energy for Education initiative and the Alliance’s EmPowered Schools program will integrate the video into programming, broadening its impact nationwide.
“This video is an exciting tool that will help make energy savings fun and engaging for children in New Jersey classrooms and beyond,” said Carolyn Cannon, director of community relations at NJNG. “NJNG is committed to educating the next generation of energy-efficiency leaders and encouraging them to make wise energy choices now for a sustainable future.”
“We are thrilled to incorporate ‘The Fable of the Big Bad Energy Hog’ into the EmPowered Schools program,” said Francesca Arato, director of education at the Alliance to Save Energy. “Reaching students early helps instill lifelong energy-saving habits, reinforcing the importance of conservation at a young age.”
Currently, NJNG sponsors 52 schools in its service area, empowering students to integrate energy literacy into their daily lives. Through the Alliance’s national EmPowered Schools program, Kaszuba’s winning video will reach students across the U.S., furthering the mission of fostering a culture of energy awareness and responsibility.
“Energy is an important part of everyone’s lives—no matter your age—and we all have the opportunity to help use it wisely,” said Pat Migliaccio, senior vice president and chief operating officer at NJNG. “Our Don’t Hog Energy video contest is an innovative way to share the message that energy conservation is a lesson for life.”