FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
October 9, 2013 Trevor
Keith, Energy Program Coordinator
tkeith@co.slo.ca.us
805-781-1431
“The Energy Event” Highlights Energy
Education, Sets the Stage for Future Energy Champions
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Last Saturday was a
busy day in San Luis Obispo County. With so many community events and
activities taking place, organizers were unsure how big a crowd to expect at
Cuesta College for the second annual “Energy Event”. The turnout was both
encouraging and an indication of things to come. Event organizers including the
San Luis Obispo Regional Energy Alliance are considering the high attendance an
indication that the community values energy education and wants to see more of
it.
“The Energy Event” is the highlight of San
Luis Obispo County’s month long observance of National Energy Awareness Month.
This year’s activities focused on kids and families, and partnered with Cuesta
College’s new Sustainability Resource Center and local elementary school teachers
to showcase student projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Participating schools and teachers included Heidi Cooper and Kristina Holterman
with Carissa Plains Elementary, Joe Kirschner with Templeton Elementary, Jeff
Morgan with with Sinsheimer Elementary, Jodi Rorden with Hawthorne Elementary,
Valerie Breese with CL Smith Elementary, Kimberly Kelly with Bishop’s Peak
Elementary, Valerie Hinrichs with Santa Margarita Elementary, Tanya Avery with
Cappy Culver Elementary, and Katherine Kirby with Monarch Grove Elementary.
The day started off with the inaugural 5K
Energy Run and kids’ fun dashes sponsored by Running Divas. Swarnjit Boyal and
Mollee Huisinga were the top male and female finishers, respectively.
Another first, the inaugural Energy Champion
Awards were announced with help from Mr. Eco, environmental rap superhero.
Recipients were Jim Dececco with Oceano Elementary School, Annie Turner with
Atascadero High School and the GreenHound Academy, Carissa Plains Elementary
School, and Emma Zelus, a student and environmental leader at Paso Robles High
School. All Energy Champions were nominated by community members for their
leadership in energy and sustainability education.
Throughout the day, young attendees learned
about energy use by attempting the Energy Quest, answering energy related
questions by touring booths hosted by teachers and students as well as local
non-profit organizations and agencies. Kids also enjoyed exploring forms of
renewable energy with LEGOs, and learned how to power a digital clock with a
potato. “Clean and efficient use of energy is a rapidly emerging field and
hopefully resources like this will allow these kids to be the Energy Champions
of the future”, said County Energy Program Manager Trevor Keith. “The success
of this event is largely due to the collaboration of many different
organizations and dedicated community members. We will build on this throughout
the next year to keep the community engaged with the resources they need for a
smart energy future.”
To learn more about the San Luis Obispo
Regional Energy Alliance and stay informed about future events, visit
sloregionalenergyalliance.org
.
Energy Awareness Month is
brought to you by the following non-profits, companies, and local agencies: San
Luis Obispo County Planning and Building Department, SLO County Energy Watch,
SLO County Air Pollution Control District, Cuesta Sustainability Resource
Center, U.S. Green Building Council California Central Coast Chapter, The
Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
Southern California Gas Company, MidAmerican Solar, NRG Energy and SunPower.
