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Con Edison Co. of NY, Inc.: Kids to Power Park at Science Fest

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^{Published in Business and Finance on Monday, June 8th 2009 at 10:15 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-06-08 10:16:54 by Market Wire}  

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 8, 2009) - Con Edison will give kids the chance to use their energy to make electricity at the World Science Festival Street Fair in Washington Square Park on June 14.

The company's Edison Engineering Society is encouraging young New Yorkers to get interested in energy at its annual World Science Festival booth. The booth will host education material and interactive examples that demonstrate the science behind electricity and the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

One interactive display is the Pedal-A-Watt bicycle, which demonstrates the work that goes into creating electricity. The rear wheel of the bicycle is mechanically attached to a small generator, which is connected to a light bulb. Kids will ride the bike and see that by pumping the pedals and spinning the rear wheel, electricity is created, lighting up the bulb.

The Con Edison booth will also feature a display demonstrating the efficiency of compact fluorescent light bulbs compared with traditional incandescent bulbs. Visitors will flip a switch to light a bulb and then watch a meter spin. The meter spins more slowly for the compact fluorescent because compact fluorescents use less electricity.

The festival, which is designed to enliven science for the public, will bring together Nobel laureates, elite researchers and authors, policy makers and top performers. Con Edison is a major sponsor of the festival for the second straight year.

The dozens of events scheduled at venues throughout the city from June 10 to 14 include discussions and presentations on climate change, human behavior, health and the Hudson River. Featured events will include "Infinite Worlds," a discussion of whether our universe is one of many; "Navigating the Cosmos," a three-dimensional tour of the cosmos at the Hayden Planetarium; and "Time Since Einstein," a conversation about the nature of time, whether it has a beginning and whether it has an end.

"Learning and fun are a great combination and that's exactly what the World Science Fair is all about," said Frances A. Resheske, senior vice president of Public Affairs at Con Edison. "Some of the world's greatest minds will come to the world's greatest city to teach, entertain and learn. Young people will love these programs as much as adults. The programs fit perfectly with our EnergyNY program and the environmental concerns we all have."

On the final day of the festival, the Washington Square Park area will bustle with interactive exhibits, experiments, games and shows. Con Edison's displays at the street fest are in keeping with the company's commitment to alternative energy sources and environmental responsibility.

Con Edison's fleet of 1,800 diesel trucks runs on biodiesel fuel. More than 40 percent of the company's fleet uses alternative fuel technology.

The company last year processed more than 10 million e-payments through its electronic bill and payment option. For every customer that chooses e-billing, the company donates $1 to fund tree plantings.

The company has reduced its carbon footprint by 30 percent since 2005.