Created: 5/25/2009 5:07:03 PM 
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL -- A fourth-grader here on the First Coast gave her lunch an extreme makeover and is now the winner of a national energy conservation challenge. Olivia Horne was curious how much trash the average child generated and began to investigate. It led to a class assignment, Olivia called it "Extreme Lunch Makeover." She focused on how much trash is wasted in one lunch bag. "I started by looking in my lunch and started making eco-friendly changes," said Olivia. "I then looked at other students and family members lunches and was amazed at all the plastic bags and bottles that were being used and discarded." Olivia's solution is simple, stop wasting plastic's and start using reusable bags, containers and water bottles. "Hopefully, it is going to reduce the amount of plastic bottles and bags in our land fills," Olivia said. She spread her message through a video presentation. She is already seeing results from her research. "She sure makes us be eco-friendly around here, so I will say our lives have changed as a family because of this project," said Melissa Horne, Olivia's mother. "Ever since I've done the project, I use more energy saving products and I've made my dad use them at work," said Olivia. Olivia's idea apparently won over more than just friends and family. Olivia beat out over 1,400 other students in a national energy conservation contest. "I'm still shocked about that, I think it is amazing that I won," said Olivia. Olivia won an all expense pain trip to the Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, DC. While she is there, she will be able to share her creative project with government and energy leaders.
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