On Friday, April 27, all 378 students from Hunsicker Elementary School — representing grades K-5 — took time out to celebrate a second Earth Day in order to learn more about energy and energy conservation, as they prepare to attend school next year in a new building with state-of-the-art energy saving amenities.

Friday's presentations included discussions regarding conservation and energy efficiency and solar energy.

Those presentations included hands-on demonstrations by representatives (Jesse Hoff and Andrea Wang) from Solar Energy International's PV (Photovoltaic) Lab Facility in Paonia, using small solar cells to power fans, a small solar oven to generate heat and a small hand generator to demonstrate how much more energy it takes to light up a standard incandescent light bulb compared to the lesser amount needed to light up a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFLs).

The "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" program, presented by by Rachel Leonard and Billy VanHouten of Double J Recycling, in Austin included students taking part in a Recycling Relay game, a race to sort and put trash in the proper recycle bin.  VanHouten told the kids "to save the planet, think twice before throwing stuff away."

Leonard said Double J plans on opening a "drop off – sorted and clean" recycling facility at 21355 Austin Road, in Austin on May 10. According to Leonard, the facility will be able to handle everything recyclable, including TV and computer monitors and electronics, and that everything accepted at the facility will be recycled. VanHouten also noted that, if need be, someone will be available at the site to help sort and get things in proper order.

According to Leonard, future plans include curbside recycling.

blog comments powered by Disqus

• < Prev
• Next >