College Setting Example of Renewable Energy

renewable energy

Love going back to college. Makes me feel young. Visited the local Community College today and while standing in lunch line I had one of the servers ask me if I was a student. I slid my reading glasses slowly off my nose and said that I was just a visitor. Then she charged me an additional dollar for my lunch.

While visiting the college I ran into several examples of renewable energy and conservation awareness that surprised and excited me. If a community college is effectively demonstrating energy importance in a number of various ways, it is bound to be a learning experience for the students.

Maybe the renewable energy awareness will stick to them when they head out into the world. The experience at the college highlighted the need to begin energy conservation education at a young age. I know many elementary schools have programs, but I bet a lot of primary schools don’t and should.

Here is the list of conservation and renewable energy related items I noticed at this college.

1.  Nice clean bathroom

Meeting all the current codes for handicap access, big stall, great toilet. Dual flush handle. Yep, first one I have seen, but right there for my use. Pull the handle up, conserve water and flush liquids. Push the handle down, more water, flush solids.

2.  Parking at the college is tight

Could not help noticing three empty parking spots right up front. I assumed they were handicap parking spots. A closer look revealed three electric car recharging stations. They looked like little, old time gas pumps. I wish there had been a vehicle there charging up, I would have liked to have seen the whole operation.

3. Center Court Yard is Meeting Place

The college has a center court yard where the students can relax, eat, study and enjoy a very nice water fountain. One thing that was missing was some shade from the hot summer sun. The college is building a cool gazebo with a flowing roof line facing to the southern sky. The cover will indeed provide needed shade. The gazebo will also provide a perfect roof for renewable energy. Not sure how many solar panels are being installed, but the college will be in the business of solar power.

4.  Walking out back around the shop classrooms

I ran into these huge white structures stretched out on the lawn. Took me a few minutes to realize what they were. Having never been up close to a commercial wind turbine, I was shocked at the size of the wind turbine blades lying before me. Folks, these things are unbelievably big. No wonder when you are out driving cross country, you can see these things off on the horizon miles away. Noting that these two blades are present at a community college is a good sign, someone is paying attention to renewable energy.

5.  Checking the list of of active Clubs

Posted on the bulletin board, I noticed the Conservation Club. Leaders name and contact information. The third meeting of the new year was coming up on Friday. I hope they are recruiting, teach students to be involved in renewable energy, recharging stations and wind turbines.

6.  The Green Building

The newest building on campus houses the engineering classrooms and is referred to as the Green Building. The Green Building is where I found the neat dual flush toilets. Built under LEED guidelines, it is a conscious attempt to build an energy efficient building. That’s really great, it’s a good reminder to everyone to have a building called Green. Call this building Green and call that old building over there, Hog.

Pleasant and educational trip to the Community College, a College that’s doing just what it’s suppose to do.

Thanks for stopping by today, come back soon, but I won’t be leaving the lights on for you…Don Ames