http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddpkjz6r_55g6xj86f5

What I Learned...

So, what did I learn during my time in 21st Journalism, while researching this project? Well, as Colin stated in his blog, (Yes, I read your blog) this is an extremely difficult question to answer. This most likely do to the fact of knowledge that radiated off our classroom 6th period. Everything from Kat's word vomit of whatever news story popped up on her email, to Colin and Sean's daily gossip over what ever they did through out the day. And of course Miller's new applications on his Iphone, which I still don't think he's put down.

But yes, what I learned. Well, of the time I spent researching my topic, I was like a green sponge of knowledge. I started with just the topic of going green, and read articles from everything from Newsweek, to Red, Green, and Blue.com. All of these articles, however informing they were, just provided a tsunami of information, and I had forgotten my life vest. I had no idea where to begin.

So with the help of Miller, I crafted the topic of what school districts are doing to be more environmentally conscious.

From this, it was easier to research my topic. I found out that schools do everything from cutting buses and making kids walk to school, to buying solar generators that take 30 years to pay for themselves. Also, schools are extremely wasteful, but what they do with the waste affect their carbon footprint.

The final aspect of my topic was what Branford does to keep our school in tip top environmental shape. This part of the project was to connect the topic to something that affects me. Cause yeah kids in Missouri have to walk 3 miles to school, but that's virtually across the universe, why do I care?

Well, it turns out our school not only has a massive energy generator, but we have huge solar panels to go along with the generator, on the roof of the F wing. Right next to the pool. We also recycle a lot, and dispose of our trash in a landfill in an undisclosed location, probably somewhere in New Jersey, everyone else seems to.

And finally, the biggest thing I discovered in this class was cameroid.com. It's wildly addicting. Overall, this was an amazing class. Its been a pleasure Miller, thanks for a great semester.

Does our normal green carbon footprint turn into an old brown shoe come holiday season?

Well first off this has nothing to do with my research project it's just a question I was pondering while on a six hour road trip to Philadelphia, PA, to visit family. The title is for you Miller. But, do our environmentally conscious way take a back seat to Santa's sleigh come Christmas time?

We all do it. Everyone has gone on the drive over the river and through the woods, to spend time with their relatives on Christmas. Its an American tradition, unwrap the presents under the tree then hop in the family sedan and drive 500 miles. But is this tradition hurting our environment?


I mean think about all the paper used for Christmas cards. Or amount of electricity it takes to power candy land down the street. All these things that we are all so worried about 11 months of the year, just seem to slip our minds when we smell fresh gingerbread cookies.

So maybe next year we should maybe tone down the lights. Or maybe buy a web cam to cut out the driving. And apparently they make these things called E-cards, who knew!

I mean I enjoy the 10 hours in the car and the awkward family memories as much as the next guy, but maybe its the not the best thing for Mother Nature. You don't get any points if NASA can identify your house.

INTERVIEW... Finally

1. Would you happen to know who handles the energy needs for BHS or the school district of Branford?

2. How many students are currently enrolled in BHS?

3. Of these students, what percentage would you say drive to school?

4. And, how many trips each student makes to and from school, for sports, extra curricular activities, etc?

5. How many take the bus?

6. This might seem like an odd question, but what do you think is the average trip length for kids who drive to school?

Now lets shift gears to energy usuage.

7. Do you know the number of MWh of electricity BHS uses a year?

8. And of the energy we use, what percent is from renewable energy sources?

9. How much natural gas does BHS use over the course of a school year?

I'd just like to ask a few questions about the waste we produce here at BHS...

10. How much of the waste we produce, ends up in a landfill?

11. How much of the waste is incinerated?

12. Well, now that I haved asked you about the things we produce, how do you think BHS could cut our emissions?

13. What solutions can you think of?

For starters: using more efficient light bulbs, carpooling, composting, recycled paper

14. Are any of these examples things we do currently?

15. And if not, what do we do to conserve energy at our school?

16. Are these the best ways to do so in your mind?

17. I understand we have a solar powered generator at BHS, how often is that used?

18. Is it enough, that it has payed for itself already?

19. Are there other alternative energy uses currently empoloyed at BHS or any of the schools in the district?

20. Since, I have collected all this data, would you like to know BHS' carbon footprint?

How To Make Your School Greener, One Foot A Time...

This week, in my research, I came across, an article on How to Reduce Your School's Eco-footprint. This website, is a sort of how to guide, to making your school more Eco-friendly. Pretty much a, Going Green For Dummies, if you will.

First things first, to start your schools transformation, you need to ask the right questions, such as:

What is our capacity here? What do we have control of? What don't we have control of? Make a checklist -- this might include recycling, energy use, pesticide and chemical use, indoor air quality, food waste, water efficiency, and so on.

Next, you need to get your school to believe, and not just the teachers and administrators, but the students. You'd be surprised, but you can't really make any change in your school, good or bad, without getting your student body to believe that whatever your changing is whats best for the school. You can do this by educating your student body on your goal,which in this case would be running our school more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Host school events yo raise money. Unfortunately going green costs green. It's not cheap in the short term but in the long term, it will pay for itself. Once you get the ball rolling, you get your local government involved and use grants and what not to fund your schools transformation.

All this however, is useless unless someone gets the ball rolling.

Here, There, and Everywhere...

Yesterday while researching what kind of a carbon footprint schools leave, I came across this article in Newsweek from September, about a school district in Columbia, Missouri, that is slowly doing away with school buses.

As it turns out, the cost of the diesel fuel needed to power all the school buses has risen 34% over the past two years to a whopping $4.28/gallon. For the typical school district, Cities and states spend $14.7 billion annually transporting students to school; for the typical school district, bus bills total 5 percent of the budget. Administrators in towns that have made these cutbacks aren't worried because studies have shown that whether you take the bus or not, doesn't have an affect on a child's test scores. It's just a lot tougher to do homework while walking.

In the grand scheme of things this might seem like a good idea, but it could backfire. Parents who think that his or her kid lives too far to walk, will start driving their children to school.

"On average, one school bus replaces 36 private vehicles," says Mike Martin of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, a pro-busing advocacy group.

There are alternatives to normal school buses. As of now, the diesel fuel buses used by school districts around the country get 7 MPG. Makes a hummer seem like a sports car. The alternative are diesel-electric hybrid buses which get about 12, but cost $180,000 per bus, which is just about double the price of a normal school bus.

Does the cost now out way the cost in the long run?

But hey, who knew. All this time we were cutting teachers, when the real money was in the school bus.

How Do Schools Go Green?

Green schools can save school districts boatloads of money. But, before I find out if Branford subscribes to these philosophies, I should probably tell you what "Going Green" actually means, well at least when talking about a school.

green school /grEn skül / n. a school building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money

Now, there are many benefits to a Green school, such as a healthy, more productive learning environment, improved retention of teachers, and astronomical financial savings.

But these are just the beginning. I wonder if kids who attend these off colored institutions actually become more environmentally conscious themselves?

Is environmentalism a learn by doing concept?