Monday, July 20, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking for community projects that reduce green house gas emissions while benefiting the community. The Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program, started by the EPA, will assist in funding up to 30 projects nation-wide by distributing $10 million among the accepted plans. The city of Lawrence will submit its proposal today.
Jeff Severin, director of the University’s Center for Sustainability, said the city staff asked him for project ideas. Severin said his idea for a project that would benefit the community while lowering emissions came from a similar program in Boulder, Colo., called Colorado University Community Energy Connections . This program employs CU students who raise awareness about energy conservation by informing home owners and renters about what they can do to conserve energy in their homes. The program also offers optional home energy audits done by students who examine residences and give specific examples for ways to conserve energy for each home.
Severin said the plan he proposed differed from CU Community Energy Connection by recruiting student volunteers, instead of using paid employees, to go around to student neighborhoods to talk about what they could do as renters to conserve energy and efficiency in their apartments and homes.
“The idea is to focus more on what can a renter do,” Severin said. “A lot of stuff that’s coming out right now is retrofitting homes and that involves the home owner, but what do you do if you’re a renter and you can’t make some of these major changes?”
Severin said the program would provide resources such as light bulbs, smart power strips and weatherizing materials to help reduce energy consumption. He said the program would not only help reduce emissions, but would also help save students money.
Janie Chen, Olathe junior in environmental studies, said she was interested in the project and would be willing to participate if the program became a reality. She said she thought students could do more to conserve energy, particularly in places such as the “student ghetto.”
“Even if we are renters, we need to be educated about how to conserve energy and conserve our money,” Chen said. “There’s so much more that we can do, and I just think that a lot of people aren’t aware of it.”
Chen said she tried to conserve energy at her home by turning off lights, keeping the air-conditioning and heating down when she wasn’t at home, using power strips and unplugging appliances that suck up energy.
“Those things actually take up a lot more energy than you think they do,” Chen said.
She said she knew of other environmental studies majors who would want to know more about the project.
“It’s a project that’s close to home,” Chen said. “I think it’s not too big and something we can accomplish.”
Ryan Callihan, Lenxa senior, is president of KU Environs, a student organization that promotes awareness of environmental issues. Callihan said he agreed that the plan sounded like a good idea, especially in the student ghetto because the houses in that area were more prone to being inefficient because of their age.
“Students don’t want to take the time to invest in a long-term investment for energy savings because that’s not really their prerogative,” Callihan said. “They won’t even be there next year.”
He said that it should be the landlord’s responsibility, but that because they don’t pay the electrical bill, many landlords do not improve energy efficiency much in their rentals.
Callihan coordinates student volunteers for KU Environs. In order to get students to volunteer for the program, there would need to be some incentive to get them to participate, such as community service credit, Callihan said.
Severin said the project would not happen without the grant, which would provide half the funding.
“The actual man power could be done on a volunteer basis,” Severin said. “But we want to be able provide some additional resources.”
Severin said funding would be very competitive because projects would be submitted nation-wide, and that there had already been more than 250 proposals submitted. He said this had made funding opportunities for this project harder to obtain.
Funds are expected to be available by January 2010 according to the Climate Showcase Communities Grant Web site.
— — Edited by Derek Zarda
Lawrence hosts annual energy conservation fair
Event will showcase tips on how to be more energy efficient and ...
KU receives C+ in sustainability efforts
Sustainable Endowments Institute evaluated the 332 colleges on their green efforts.
Faculty members get environmental task force positions
Faculty members Simran Sethi and Jeff Severin were chosen by Climate Protection ...
Groups continue to push green initiative through ...
Groups are optimistic, though administration says there isn’t much ‘green’ to go ...
Anschutz receives environmental award
Anschutz Library is awarded for student-led initiative to use wind power to ...
Center for Sustainability seeks award nominees
The KU Center for Sustainability is looking for nominees for its first ...
Green living good for earth and wallet
Students use sustainability to keep bills low.
Report shows University increases recycling
As convenience increases, so does the number of tons of garbage recycled. ...
Kansas communities to compete in energy efficiency ...
Lawrence will take part the Take Charge! Competition, beginning Saturday.
Student groups team up for environment
From Blue to Green, a sustainability movement, will host events between now ...
Energy Fair offers conservation tips, information
The KU Energy Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to p.m. ...
Lawrence and Manhattan go green for competition
Challenge will foster environmental friendliness in Lawrence and Manhattan
Meeting shows how to save energy at ...
A Westar representative will be on hand to explain how to cut ...
Discussing the future of energy
Brownback and 13 experts of energy and regulation debate energy business and ...
Green campus groups educate students
Many opportunities exist at KU to get involved with environmental groups and ...
Editorial: KU students finding more ways to ...
A variety of campus groups give students the opportunity to promote sustainability.
Manhattan ahead in conservation competition
It'll take more than changing lightbulbs to put Lawrence in the lead.
Wakarusa gets cleaned up
Festival goers encouraged to recycle and exchange trash for prizes.
Westar presents smart meters on Saturday
The meters will be place throughout Lawrence in the spring of 2011.
Campus groups promote recycling, reducing
The Center for Sustainability will be giving away reusable bottles and bags ...
New baler will take load off KU ...
KU Environs to lead an Earth Day ...
Eco-friendly festivities will aim to increase knowledge of sustainability and its benefits.
Rain garden by recreation center to prevent ...
Native flowers and grasses will allow the $40,000 garden to manage the ...
New south trafficway facing opposition
Environmental groups stress environmental and spiritual consequences of the traffic way construction.
University improves sustainability grade
The Sustainability Endowment Institute awarded the University a "B," an improvement from ...
Kansas students volunteer for the earth
Student volunteers are making biodiesel on campus, and are looking for others ...
Students go green for awareness week
Events during KU Energy Awareness Week will include reusable bag hand-outs, a ...
Researchers, students to develop cleaner fuel
In the future, campus buses could be powered by leftovers from the ...
Try these tips for an eco-friendly ‘green ...
Giving environmentally friendly gifts, such as a birdhouse or adopting a pet ...
Professor urges scientific communication
Scurto encourages science students to work with student media to present information
Energy-saving home improvements save money
Renovating a house to save energy is costly, but students can take ...
Candidates discuss positions on environmental issues
The Kansan spoke with local State Senate and State House candidates, asking ...
Improving energy efficiency isn't cheap
The University designates $25 million to update lighting, ventilation, heating and water ...
‘Green’ Jayhawks receive accolades
Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize individuals who promote environmentally friendly habits.
Chancellor proclaims Earth Day for KU
It is the first time the 40-year-old holiday is officially celebrated by ...
Fired up about coal
Lawrence’s coal-fired plant contributes to high asthma rates, river pollution.
Gas station brings energy efficient ideas to ...
Zarco 66 offers 10 renewable fuel blends and provides ‘green’ atmosphere.
Lawrence leading Manhattan in energy-saving competition
The Sunflower Showdown is going to new heights with the Take Charge ...
Solar energy’s bright future in Kansas
Faculty and students are exploring new ways to embrace solar energy.
Groups must detail fund proposals
Student Senate looks closer at funding requests after a decrease in the ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID