Sustainability education promoting renewable energy around the country

Sustainability education promoting renewable energy around the country

The government and businesses in recent years have been doing more and more about renewable energy and sustainability. But individual citizens take up the mantle, too, and plenty of outlets this summer will be offering education and opportunity for the average person who wants to increase his or her green efforts.
Farmers Market offering customers opportunity
Farmers markets are a staple of the green lifestyle, a beloved regular opportunity for the organic believer. And in Oregon this week, one farmer's market will be doing its best to make sure its customers understand organic best practices.
The Cedar Mill Farmer's Market will be holding its third annual Sustainability Fair on Saturday, according to the Beaverton Leader. The fair will include over a dozen organizations that will come together to support and educate on green living, including Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition, Zipcar and Habitat for Humanity.
Dean Moberg is co-chairman of the Conservation, Us, and the Environment committee of the Terra Linda Neighborhood Association, who organizes the fair. He spoke to the Beaverton Leader about the purposes of the event, which tries to help the farmers markets' customers learn new ways to live green, whether big or small.
"We believe in giving people the information to act," Moberg told the Leader.
New Jersey community college offering classes on sustainability
In the common imagination, New Jersey may bring to mind images of its famous turnpike or the muscular and hair-gelled patrons of its shore. But in reality the state is a player in sustainability, and one of its community colleges will be taking an opportunity this summer to educate students on a greener lifestyle.
The Cape May County Herald reports that Atlantic Cape Community College will have an assortment of "green" classes this summer. The college, which has about 6500 students, will begin the first offerings on June 21.
The first class is called "Green Building Today!" and, according to the Herald, "provides an in-depth overview of the design and construction of Green High Performance Buildings." Other offerings include LEED for Green Associate PLUS, which will prepare students for the Green Building Certification Institute's LEED for Green Associate exam. Also offered will be Solar Professional Certification, beginning July 29, which will give students training on photovoltaic installation.
Because with the sun sure to be shining bright in the coming months, there's no better time to look into solar power and sustainability.

Go Green click Here

How Do Wind Turbines Work?

How Do Wind Turbines Work?
Wind is a form of solar energy and is a result of the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and the rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns and speeds vary greatly across the United States and are modified by bodies of water, vegetation, and differences in terrain. Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating electricity.

                                     Read More

Students use solar power to continue gardening projects

Students use solar power to continue gardening projects

Fall time may be here, and while many gardeners are hanging up their their sheers and spades, middle school students at Ellis School are just now planting a crop of lettuce seeds that, thanks to solar energy, will be harvested in the dead of winter, the Union Leader reports.
According to the news source, the school's educational greenhouse program will soon use a solar hot water system to keep the plants warm throughout the frigid New Hampshire winter. The program, which began last year, has been helped by a host of volunteers and generous contributions, including a $5,00 grant from Lowe's "Toolbox for Education" fund program.
"There are so many different lessons this can give to the students," said Jen Rydeen, vice president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.
The school sought the help of the Seacoast Area Renewable Energy Initiative to install the solar system, and also recruited skilled and knowledgeable volunteers to help with the process, the media outlet stated.
New Hampshire and the Northeast as a whole are reporting more widespread use of solar technologies, which has been attributed to the many rebate and incentive programs that are available in several states, including Maine and Connecticut.

Sustainability could be great for education

Sustainability could be great for education

Everyone wants to see their kids get the best education possible, and that could result in greater environmental sustainability for schools, according to The Guardian. The news source said the U.K. Department of Education's Framework for the National Curriculum report aims to promote the understanding of sustainability and stewardship of local resources as well as helping personal development so each student can be more balanced and healthy moving forward.
"Children and young people growing up and attending school today will become the business leaders of the future, people who will have to tackle environmental and social issues on a level that is currently unrecognized or at least swept under the carpet," The Guardian said. "It is a huge challenge but one that other nations are addressing and one that our current government needs to square up to."
The report said the agency believes education should be stressing personal development to allow students to have a greater understanding of their surrounding world.
Adding to this, The Guardian said the business case for this is that children who develop an appreciation for sustainable practices in school have more potential for achievement and should have more key skills that could be useful when they get into the business world.



Learn more about Sustainability