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| April 2009 Volume 3, No. 8 |
Celebrating Earth Day: Messages in Honor of Our Planet
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by Beth and Phil Inman
People always ask us where we met…a girl from Louisville, KY and a boy from Hobart, Tasmania (the island state of Australia). It was a chance meeting in Savannah, GA where Beth was working as an Environmental Educator on Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Phil had just sailed in from Europe as crew on the tallest single-masted sailing yacht in the world. Yacht Zeus was getting repairs at the marina across the Wilmington River from Oatland Island where Beth took students on pontoon boats to study tidal creek ecology. Our paths just happened to cross because of our locale, but we like to think it was destiny because we would not have been there without our love of the beautiful coastal lifestyles we were enjoying.
We were from two very different worlds at the time, but found that we had so much in common. We both love the outdoors, sailing, canoeing, hiking, swimming in the ocean and spending time at the beach. We found that we both have the same concerns about energy, clean air and water, loss of habitats and biodiversity, world poverty and government/corporate corruption. Beth knew that Phile was a good sport and a very good person after he became a volunteer at Oatland Island and helped our staff package dead lab animals that were to be food for our panthers, wolves, bears and birds of prey. We grew to understand the many common things between our countries and learned about each others cultural values. It turns out that Australians are generally much more connected to nature than Americans have become in recent decades. Is it because of living in a dryer climate where water is scarce and resources are more dear or is it better education?
We realized that we were the kind of kids who grew up in the 1970’s that celebrated Earth Day and remembered the lessons about protecting and conserving our environment for future generations throughout our lives. We learned the lesson that we share the earth with many other living things that are all connected together and sustain us all. We are both citizens of the world who believe that travel opens minds and hearts. We are grateful for our teachers who have shared this message without judgment or guilt, but found ways to share these facts as science, altruism and responsibility for each other.
We strive to live a sustainable lifestyle everyday because of these lessons. We live in a small house in an urban neighborhood that we have renovated into an energy efficient home; we drive old diesel vehicles that run on waste vegetable oil that we recycle from local restaurants because it is carbon neutral; we recycle everything possible and shop for second hand clothes; we buy food from the local farmers market and eat organic food that we can afford; we walk, ride the scooter or bicycles as much as possible. We are happy, grateful and feel abundantly blessed although we don’t have a lot of stuff.
Earth Day is a special day to share in celebration with others and continue to learn about those who are making a difference. It is a time to support new businesses and technologies that are going to help us make the Earth sustainable for all. Although many feel that the crisis we have created is because we have not learned the lessons from the 1st Earth Day. We have to ask ourselves essential questions to continue justifying what we do. It is important to continue to gain more information to shape the solutions to the questions and problems that inhibit our natural world. Is it luck or destiny to live through this crisis and finally learn those lessons? Let us all hope that we learn this time and a new beginning of clean energy, transportation and industrial systems prevail.
Beth Inman is a science teacher at Ballard High School and volunteers for the Climate Action Committee of the Partnership for a Green City. Phil Inman is co-owner and operator of GoodOil, a company that converts diesels to run on waste vegetable oil and filters and sells waste vegetable oil as fuel. He also owns and operates G'day Mate Handyman Services that renovates older homes with energy efficient upgrades.
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by Amy Lee
With the dire forecast of America’s perilous energy future ringing in their ears, Valley Traditional High School (VTHS) students have chosen to address the problem first hand. They began by investigating a wide variety of green technologies and then selecting a few that could be implemented at VTHS. Consideration was given to energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, and attractiveness of the technologies. The most popular technologies identified were green roofs, solar energy, and window treatments. Once identified, the students built a case for implementation of these technologies at VTHS which will be shared with Principal Gary Hurt.
Green roofs captured the imagination of many students. Rather than gazing at a landscape of barren black tar paper, air conditioning exchangers, and ventilation pipes, the students recommended installing lush lawns and landscaping that would provide a sorely needed respite to dreary rooftops. Green roofs are energy efficient because they block heat transfer that occurs with traditional roofs. While initial installation is expensive, the structural components of green roofing last much longer than traditional roofs because of the elimination of UV exposure and other corrosive environmental factors. But probably the biggest selling point for green roofs, as identified by students, is how attractive they are. The students downloaded images of green roofs that ranged from bold and dramatic to bucolic and soothing.
Following closely in popularity was use of solar energy, passive and active. Passive solar energy included simple adjustments such as energy absorbing materials used in sunny atrium settings. Heat absorbed in these areas would be circulated throughout the building. More elaborate active solar energy recommendations included production of electricity from solar collectors mounted on the school’s roof. Ambitious plans included selling excess electricity back to the power company. Other active solar energy ideas included heating water to be used in the building via solar panels.
A pragmatic group of students recommended a variety of window treatments including tinted windows and installing thermal window shades. These recommendations focused on the problem of heat loss and gain through traditional windows. The most energy efficient option is use of thermal window shades. The advantage of “low e” windows is the ability to see through the tinted windows. The students acknowledged the need to balance these two considerations in applying window treatments throughout VTHS.
Since beginning research on green technologies, a new awareness of our school environment has developed. Frequently, spontaneous class discussions regarding energy news and technologies erupts that leads to impassioned questioning and positions developed. Over and over they are challenged to form their own opinion about America’s Energy Plan for ultimately it is their future.
Amy Lee is a science teacher at Valley Traditional High School. Students in her Integrated Science 1B class - Corey Scott, Jazlyn Talon, and Brad Henson - are currently studying energy and energy use, and are investigating a variety of green technologies that could be applied at VTHS.
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by Cynthia Lee
On Earth Day 2005 Mayor Jerry Abramson made a commitment to reduce our local carbon footprint by over 2 million tons of CO2 per year when he signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. That is about the same as the annual emissions from 400,000 vehicles, or from the electricity used in nearly 300,000 homes each year.
Two and a half years ago a group came together to help Louisville reduce its carbon footprint. The Partnership for a Green City, which includes Louisville Metro Government (LMG), Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and the University of Louisville (UofL), formed the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to identify from where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come and what effect they have on our community. The CCC was comprised of more than 120 people including the Partners, local industry, businesses, utilities, neighborhood residents, students, and people with environmental concerns.
The CCC found that the Partners (LMG, JCPS, and UofL) contribute about 5% of the GHG emissions in Louisville. To help reduce those emissions, the CCC recommended strategies for the Partners including a program to encourage energy efficiency in buildings throughout the city and vocational training in environmental technologies and construction. The 175 recommendations of the CCC also include strategies to reduce the demand for fossil fuels and reduce food miles traveled by purchasing locally grown food.
The efforts of the CCC and the Partners, however, won’t be enough to meet the goal the Mayor set for our community. Remember, the Partners only account for 5% of the GHG emission in Louisville. That means that the other 95% comes from industry, businesses, and citizens.
Because all of us generate GHGs, we all need to be part of the solution. So, what can you do to help?
-- Help spread the word about saving energy at school, at work, or even at home.
-- Turn off or unplug unnecessary lights and appliances. Many appliances and electronics will continue to use electricity even when they are “off.”
-- Switch to fluorescent or LED lighting. They use 75% less energy that conventional incandescent bulbs.
-- Buy equipment and appliances with an Energy Star® label. It’s not just for stoves and refrigerators, look for Energy Star® electronics and computers too.
-- Get involved with Bike Louisville. Reduce pollution by reducing the number of cars on the road.
-- Support local weatherization assistance programs such as from Project Warm. Make local homes more energy efficient.
-- Be an environmental advocate. There are many local and national nonprofit organizations focused on environmental issues
Climate change is an issue of concern globally but efforts to reduce our carbon footprint in Louisville will make a big difference. With each of you doing your part it can all add up to improving air quality and creating a healthier place to live.
Cynthia Lee is the environmental manager at Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.
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by Sen. Mitch McConnell
Earth Day 2009 is an opportunity to reflect not only on the many conservational efforts already accomplished, but also how we can continue to improve our environmental stewardship in the future. One way forward is to continue to pursue new sources of clean, alternative energy. Many Kentuckians don’t realize it, but our state is uniquely positioned to lead the way to a bright energy future for America.
Coal is a vital part of America’s energy production; it generates over half of our country’s electricity. It is also plentiful—the amount we can mine in this country alone would be enough to supply our nation for more than 250 years. What Saudi Arabia is to oil, America is to coal.
And Kentucky is an important resource to the country’s coal production. A key part of our state’s economy and history, coal provides over 60,000 jobs in the state. Because Kentucky has so much coal, it would be irresponsible of us not to take the lead in creating technology to take advantage of this natural resource in a cleaner and more efficient manner.
Greater use of clean-coal technology, including coal-to-liquid fuels, would allow us to do so while also reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate manner and other pollutants as compared to using conventional fuels. We could also reduce greenhouse-gas emissions significantly as compared to gasoline.
Because Kentucky currently benefits from low energy prices relative to the rest of the nation—thanks in part to this abundance of coal—our state is the perfect place to launch new energy innovations and technologies. One example is the important research taking place at Alltech Inc., a Kentucky company located in Lexington.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy selected Alltech to receive a competitive grant of $30 million to invest in creating a small-scale biofuel refinery. In partnership with the University of Kentucky, Alltech will convert biological material like corn cobs, wood chips and switch grass into fuel to power our cars and trucks.
Thanks to the $30-million grant, Alltech expects the plant to be operational by next year, and to produce up to 2.5 million gallons a year of biofuel. Our state should support the innovation going on at Alltech, and attract more of it, so that Kentucky can become a hub for new renewable energy technology.
This technology will have a profound impact on how we fuel our cars and trucks nationwide, and will also help to reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil. We can be proud it started in Kentucky.
Mitch McConnell is the Republican Leader of the U.S. Senate.
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by Cam Metcalf
It has become increasingly clear that assuring a secure energy future for Kentucky must begin by focusing our efforts on energy efficiency. In order to meet energy production challenges, reduce environmental impacts and maintain a sustainable future, we must push now for an increased level of public and private sector awareness and involvement in smart energy use and smart energy policies. Energy efficiency can and should be a significant driver of future policy debates, with sustainability as the over-riding environmental goal. Along with improvements in efficiency, we will need to increase renewable energy production, expand our research and development, and demonstrate and deploy new and emerging energy technologies in order to meet these challenges.
As we establish a framework for action, a key component will be implementing a systems approach to resource use and consumption. With respect to energy efficiency, a proven systems approach is the seven-step ENERGY STAR® energy management program. The seven steps involve making a commitment to continuous improvement, assessing performance and opportunities, setting goals, creating and implementing an action plan, evaluating progress and recognizing achievements. Efforts based on this model can help all Kentucky businesses, industries and organizations successfully manage their energy usage today.
Future energy efficiency achievements will rely on manufacturers to transparently incorporate energy efficiency improvements into products and services without losing performance or increasing costs. Survival and competitive advantage are increasingly moving Kentucky organizations to do just that. Many industries and manufacturers are making great strides in this arena, but energy efficiency remains one of the most achievable, yet underutilized tools available.
Many feel that the easy to implement and cost effective energy technologies and methodologies are already in place – the “low hanging fruit has been picked.” The truth is there’s lots of low hanging fruit still to be picked or lying on the ground rotting. For our energy future, the challenge will be to educate and help the public and organizations become better and higher fruit pickers of emerging technologies and practices. One way to promote new technologies is through demonstration or deployment of energy efficiency solutions that are commercially available but have not achieved widespread market penetration. Supporting demonstration and deployment efforts will require education assistance to create energy technology awareness and promote understanding of technical principles. Kentucky is in a position to benefit greatly from improved efficiency through sustainable, system-wide approaches and from adoption of available technologies. To take full advantage of these opportunities, though, we must have the active engagement of and partnership between Kentucky’s manufacturers and universities.
KPPC’s efforts in this new era of energy security have taught us that the job of informing and involving interested stakeholders in energy efficiency and renewables requires constant attention and adaptability. While we have accomplished a great deal in the Commonwealth, we still have many challenges ahead in defining sustainable development and smart energy use. Through partnerships and energy efficiency, we can turn the considerable potential for sustainable development concepts into reality for Kentucky’s Energy Future.
Cam Metcalf is the executive director of the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center at the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
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Global Connections: Staying in Touch with Culture and Environment is a monthly publication of the JCPS Office of Equity, Diversity and Multicultural Education and the JCPS Center for Environmental Education. All submissions to the newsletter must be sent to Catherine Collesano, Editor, at catherine.collesano@jefferson.kyschools.us or fax (502) 485-3762 the Monday before the publication date. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber or a contributor to Global Connections, please contact the editor at the above email address.
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