"Water Conservation is Cool!" - Water saving kits for Schools
by Joel Haskard | Jul 19, 2022
| 1 Comment
| 1 Comment
Summary:
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) currently partners with over 100 public schools across MN, with each school having already created a team of students, engaged faculty, administrators and build operators.
Our idea is to supply to 100 public schools across Minnesota with water conservation kits that engage students in water conservation both at their school and in their homes. These kits could include efficient pre-rinse spray valves (1.28 gallons per minute) for school cafeteria kitchens and a bundle (or two!) of 100 efficient faucet aerators (1.0 gallons per minute) that can be installed in the school and also given to students to use at home. The kits will be accompanied with a brochure with easy-to-implement directions as well as additional water conservation ideas for school and home. These kits and educational materials can also be a way for teachers to easily incorporate water conservation into their science classes.
Each kit, when implemented, will save 585,000 gallons of water per year and over $5,000 in water and water heating costs. In total, will result in over 58 million gallons of water and $500,000 in annual saving around the state from water conservation!
The unique benefit of the water conservation kits being distributed at schools and also used at home is that students will learn to take the lead in their school and within their homes, carrying their lessons throughout their community.
About You
About You
First Name
Joel
Last Name
Haskard
Country
United States, MN, Ramsey County
City
Saint Paul
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
Organization Website
http://mncerts.org
Your Idea
Name your idea
"Water Conservation is Cool!" - Water saving kits for Schools
Describe how you would use $15,000 to help your community become aware of and address water issues in Minnesota.
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) currently partners with over 100 public schools across MN, with each school having already created a team of students, engaged faculty, administrators and build operators.
Our idea is to supply to 100 public schools across Minnesota with water conservation kits that engage students in water conservation both at their school and in their homes. These kits could include efficient pre-rinse spray valves (1.28 gallons per minute) for school cafeteria kitchens and a bundle (or two!) of 100 efficient faucet aerators (1.0 gallons per minute) that can be installed in the school and also given to students to use at home. The kits will be accompanied with a brochure with easy-to-implement directions as well as additional water conservation ideas for school and home. These kits and educational materials can also be a way for teachers to easily incorporate water conservation into their science classes.
Each kit, when implemented, will save 585,000 gallons of water per year and over $5,000 in water and water heating costs. In total, will result in over 58 million gallons of water and $500,000 in annual saving around the state from water conservation!
The unique benefit of the water conservation kits being distributed at schools and also used at home is that students will learn to take the lead in their school and within their homes, carrying their lessons throughout their community.
How do you define your "community"?. How are water issues affecting your community?
We define our community to include the entire state of Minnesota. In this proposal, we are especially interested in how to engage school communities, meaning the students in the classroom and their families at home.
Water issues affect all of us, but especially our cash-strapped schools, where water is used daily in bathrooms, kitchens, labs, pools, and gyms. It’s important not only for administrators to take advantage of easy water savings, but it’s equally important to engage students around these issues.
As students are engaged helping their school save money through water and other conservation practices, they can bring these easy-to-implement practices home to save money there too.
Innovation
Describe how your idea is creative.
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) currently partners with over 100 public schools across MN, with each school having already created a team of students, engaged faculty, administrators and build operators.
Our idea is to supply to 100 public schools across Minnesota with water conservation kits that engage students in water conservation both at their school and in their homes. These kits could include efficient pre-rinse spray valves (1.28 gallons per minute) for school cafeteria kitchens and a bundle (or two!) of 100 efficient faucet aerators (1.0 gallons per minute) that can be installed in the school and also given to students to use at home. The kits will be accompanied with a brochure with easy-to-implement directions as well as additional water conservation ideas for school and home. These kits and educational materials can also be a way for teachers to easily incorporate water conservation into their science classes.
Each kit, when implemented, will save 585,000 gallons of water per year and over $5,000 in water and water heating costs. In total, will result in over 58 million gallons of water and $500,000 in annual saving around the state from water conservation!
The unique benefit of the water conservation kits being distributed at schools and also used at home is that students will learn to take the lead in their school and within their homes, carrying their lessons throughout their community.
Impact
Describe how how you expect your idea to make a difference in your community.
CERTs is a pioneer in designing easy conservation programs that fit MN communities, concerns, and issues. This idea will capture the interest of key partners, such as schools looking to save money, teachers interested in additions to curriculum, and students wanting to “do something” about local environmental issues.
Our past campaigns in energy and water conservation have shown that this approach is effective and exciting for communities. Youth enjoy getting involved on a project that has real results. Our follow-up surveys have indicated that our campaigns are “easy”, “fun”, “beneficial”, and “cost-effective”.
This project is a win-win with a strong educational program accompanied by measurable results. It’s about helping youth and community members understand the issues and what they can do to help their communities, while also giving them the hands-on experience of doing something about it.
Sustainability and Growth
Describe how your idea will "stick" in your community and how you think it could be repeated in other communities.
Many times the first conservation action an individual tries is the most difficult. Our idea will help many overcome this first barrier by providing a simple, free, and easy way to conserve water. With this first action under their belt, more actions can follow more easily.
Once a school sees how effective these water saving tools are and how quickly they can pay back, we expect other schools and districts will take interest in the same water saving practices. We promote and recognize the schools that are doing water conservation publically on our website and through trade communications. We also provide outreach and facilitation to recruit additional schools.
Finally, we look forward to highlighting several student teams as Clean Energy Superheros (http://hero.mncerts.org) and see this as a fun way to engage other students and teachers in similar actions.
Long term action is fostered by public recognition and positive reinformcement. Peer-to-peer communication will strengthen these water conservation actions to continue long term and broadly across the state.
 | Joel Haskard updated this Competition Entry. - 1774 days ago |
 | Katina Petersen said: Wow, that's a lot of savings- I love this idea! about this Competition Entry. - 1774 days ago read more > |
| Joel Haskard updated this Competition Entry. - 1774 days ago |
 | Joel Haskard submitted this idea. - 1774 days ago |
Take action: |
||
|
discuss |
share this entry |
|
|
Like this (0 likes) | ||