Teens Challenged to Conserve

By Mika Edwards

A junior science class at Drake High School is taking a hands-on approach to energy conservation and joining schools throughout the Bay Area in a "Million Kilowatt Hour Challenge."

The challenge is a way for students to promote energy conservation and alternative energy use in their homes, schools and communities.

Drake's Environmental Science teacher, Laura Powell, first heard about the program in an e-mail from the California Regional Environmental Education Community.

"We were doing an energy unit and then I saw this EarthTeam e-mail," Powell said. EarthTeam, a Walnut Creek-based environmental organization for teens and teachers, is sponsoring the program—a series of projects in which students compete for a cash prize or certificate.

Ellen Seh of Larkspur, who works with EarthTeam, says the program applies to math, science, English and other classes.

"It is really appropriate to lots of different types of curriculum. It's also appropriate for different ages," she said. "We have one thing for sixth graders and the rest are for seventh to 12th graders."

Projects are listed with instructions on the EarthTeam Web site and include home and school energy audits, an essay contest on solar or renewable energy, and a poster contest.

Seh said each project is worth points; those scoring the most points at the end of the challenge win $500. The class or individual that draws a winning poster also wins $500.

Participants receive certificates signed by Sen. Barbara Boxer. Prizes and certificates are given out on Earth Day, April 22.

Participating Drake student Tanya Kaufman, 16, sees this curriculum as a way to help those beyond the classroom.

"I think it is a great chance to share our knowledge with the community," Kaufman said. "It's going to require a lot of cooperation with the community. It just has so many options that it is whatever you make of it."

Powell's students are in the project-planning stage. Proposals include working with local businesses to help them become environmentally friendly and "green business" certified; working with school staffers to conserve energy on campus, and launching energy conservation campaigns at local elementary schools."

They are excited about the contest and excited about selecting the projects they want to work on," Powell said of students. "It's a student-generated curriculum."

Contact Mika Edwards via e-mail at: medwards@marinij.com

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