U.S. Green Building Council sponsoring program at Springs Preserve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2013

Las Vegas – The Desert Research Institute’s GreenPower program will be participating in the first-ever Nevada Chapter U.S. Green Building Council panel discussion at the Springs Preserve on Tuesday, Feb. 12th. 

Event Details: 

Where: Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd 

When: Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 

Time: 7:30am to 9:00am 

Amelia Gulling, GreenPower’s Administrator and Monica Brett, Nevada EnergyWise Program Coordinator, which is part of DRI’s GreenPower program, will be narrowing in on best practices for educating Southern Nevada’s K-12 students on adapting sustainability practices as well as educating teachers on how to bring this knowledge back to the classroom. 

“It gives teachers a voice, it engages students in a creative way to understand STEM, and it provides our partners with an effective platform to inform our community about energy efficiency and conservation,” Brett said. 

“I’m thrilled to see the hard work and extended efforts from GreenPower pay off to help educate the community on how to help teachers with sustainability practices in Clark County,” Gulling said. 

Dave Ray, former USGBC Nevada Chapter President will be moderating the panel. He says this discussion is a step in the right direction in order to teach others on how to obtain a successful sustainable community through collaboration efforts. 

“When you have a good idea and the ability to overcome obstacles, you have an opportunity for success,” Ray said. “For all of us, the mission is to improve long-term quality in the community.” 

The presentation panel will also explore the progress that already has been made in Nevada that is directly related to advocacy and education efforts. 

“The best outcome will be more sustainability/green experts wanting to help our DRI programs by being a mentor and expert presenter in Clark County schools, while offering resources and/or funding in the process,” Brett said. 

Ray says attendees will gain knowledge of simple implementation efforts in schools, such as retrofitting elementary, middle and high school learning environments to be more energy efficient. 

“Improving sustainable learning in the curriculum is critical, but improving the actual environment from which students learn is just as important,” Ray said. 

Other panel speakers at the event will include representatives from Energy Efficiency and Conservation group, NV Energy, a Rancho High School science teacher, and Paul Gerner, CCSD Assistant Superintendent. 

The panel discussion is open to USGBC members as well as the general public who purchased a registration ticket. They are anticipating around 80 people to attend. The actual discussion will last about an hour from 7:30 until 8:30 in the morning, and then the discussion will open to the audience for a question and answer session. 

About Desert Research Institute: DRI, the nonprofit research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education, strives to be the world leader in environmental sciences through the application of knowledge and technologies to improve people’s lives throughout Nevada and the world. 

About GreenPower: GreenPower is designed to promote and support the education of Nevada’s preK-12 students about environmental and climate topics by providing schools and educators free professional development, trainings, and workshops as well as grants, scholarships, and curriculum activities that meet state core standards. For more information on GreenPower to go: http://www.dri.edu/greenpower

About Nevada EnergyWise Educators: Nevada EnergyWise Educators is a community sponsored STEM Academy housed within DRI’s GreenPower program that has three core goals: giving teachers the tools and resources to engage students in STEM topics, career mentorship, and providing our partners with an effective way to benefit our state.