Teaching turns green

March 9, 2009 by Sai P Mohan 

Sustainability conference focuses on advancing curricula aimed at training students for better future, cleaner, renewable world

Continuing the university’s efforts to promote eco-friendly living, experts from throughout the state flocked to UNLV to discuss the place of sustainability in K-16 education.

The Second Urban Sustainability Conference laid a platform for people from all over the state to discuss the many aspects of sustainability, from climatic change to sustainability education for K-12 and K-16 students.

“The conference is mainly about green curriculum, climate change and the potential these topics have as educational courses,” said Scott Nowicki from the UNLV Geoscience Department. In his presentation, Nowicki explained the programs operating in Las Vegas, such as recycling and alternative energy.

Thomas Piechota, director of sustainability and multidisciplinary research at UNLV feels it is important for students to get a background of concepts like sustainability and climate change. He said the conference is an initiative to edify the faculty, staff and students regarding the various issues of sustainability.

“This sustainability mission is one way to connect with the community on important regional issues,” he said.

Dale Walsh, an industrial hygienist from Converse Consultants, explained the basics of establishing and maintaining good indoor quality in schools and studies regarding improved learning attributed to schools constructed with Green Building systems.

Rebecca Reichenbach, a teacher at Western High School gave a presentation about the lesson procedures she uses to explain the Urban Heat Island Effect to students – the phenomenon by which urban areas are hotter than surrounding areas. These lessons include basics of heat exchange, color and material investigation and building investigation to reduce heat gain. 

“Every year families call and ask me advice to landscape their houses better,” Reinchenbach said.

Ellen Ebert, from Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program emphasized sustainability issues focused on the Colorado River system using the STS/EEE (Science, Technology, Society, Environment, Economics and Ethics) model.

“It is time that we think about becoming more sustainable,” said Nick Pretasky, director of outreach at Sierra Nevada Journeys. Pretasky’s interactive presentation explained the importance of conservation of resources. The audience formed a human chain to show how fuel is being used. Ninety-three percent of the world’s energy comes from non renewable resources such as coal and oil, Pretasky said, accentuating the need for research and development in utilizing renewable resources.

A big part of the conference was about the integrating already available sources to cater to the needs of people while protecting our environment.

“It is research that develops the knowledge that produces productive students,” said Jeff Jablonski, assistant director of general education at UNLV. Jablonski explained that the Sustainability Conference is a great opportunity for researchers to widen their spectrum of knowledge.

Speakers emphasized sustainability, environmental literacy and climate change becoming part of many university educational programs. They offered updates on the revisions being proposed to the UNLV general education core regarding incorporating the ethics of sustainability. Speakers outlined how common myths about global warming can be used to educate and lay a path for a better society and an environmentally friendly tomorrow.

Campus sustainability efforts

As UNLV is focusing on sustainability as part of its “Focus: 50 to 100” initiative, efforts are being made on campus to promote community sustainability. 

Club ride carpool program 

UNLV participates in the Regional Transportation Commission Club Ride Commuter Services, which encourages carpooling to campus to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

MORE INFO: rtcsnv.com/clubride/

LEED-Certified Buildings

Greenspun Hall and the Science and Engineering Building are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified Gold and Silver (expected), respectively.

Xeriscaping/Turf Reduction

UNLV has reduced turf by 200,584 sq. ft, with estimated water savings of more than 9 million gallons and more than $20,000 annually since 1995.

Retrofitting

UNLV has been retrofitting campus buildings to increase energy efficiency.

Solar Generation

The solar dish power generation station installed on Flamingo Road, solar panels west of the Multicultural Center-Centro Multicultural and on Greenspun Hall.

Recycling

Since 1995, the Rebel Recycling program collects all grades of white and mixed paper, books, newspaper, aluminum, plastic, cell phones and other recyclable goods and holds a semi-annual sale of reusable items.