Re: P2 for Apartments

[cstead@sover.net]

You wrote:

I'm looking for P2 opportunities for apartment complexes and 
     multi-family living.  I suspect human factors will come into play too.
     
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<2>  Cambridge Center for Adult Environmental Education

Editorial Comment:  Rob Guillemin (RGuillemin@aol.com) sent me his course
outline.  I sent him my comments.  He is probably still open to suggestions
and offers of help.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear George Mokray
I recently spoke with Janet Clark form TURI who told me to contact you
regarding an environmental course I am teaching.  "Creating an Eco-Home:
Small Ways to Make a Big Difference," will be offered by the Cambridge
Center for Adult Education (CCAE) in the Spring.  Starting on April 2 and
running for eight consecutive Wednesday nights, the course presents
practical, cost-effective ways for home owners and apartment dwellers to
conserve natural resources and protect the local/global environment.  With
the help of three to four guest speakers per class, the course provides an
introduction and overview to relevant environmental trends before
discussing specific conservation strategies and resources.

According to CCAE, "Creating an Eco-Home" is the first, semester long
course dedicated to environmental issues.  It's surprising!  Despite
Cambridge's educational clout and pro-environmental reputation, no one has
ever bothered to submit a course.  Upon hearing this, I decided to
volunteer my time and organize a "weekly forum" of environmental
professionals.  By tailoring this course for everyday people, I hope to
promote a brand of environmental education that is accessible,
inspirational and a catalyst for positive change.

Janet said you might be able to help me by suggesting speakers for
particular topics or publicizing the course on you On Line news letter.  If
you are interested in supporting or participating in this course, please
review the following introductory material and contact me at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
Rob Guillemin
rguillemin@aol.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Creating an Eco-Home: Small Ways to Make a Big Difference

This introductory course explores the many ways you can improve the
environmental performance of your home and community through simple, cost
effective activities.  Learn how to assess and reduce your home's energy
and water use, purchase less-toxic products and services, explore "green"
modes of transportation, effectively compost food and yard waste, cultivate
native species in your back yard, and start an organic garden.  Classes
feature guest lectures from government, non-profit organizations,
environmental businesses and academia who will explore background issues
before discussing the skills and resources needed to promote positive
environmental change.  For those who want to expand their environmental
involvement, the final class invites a number of local environmental
organizations to introduce their programs and explain how volunteer can get
involved.

TIME, DATES, LOCATION:
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- April 2 to May 21 (eight consecutive Wednesdays)
- Cambridge Center for Adult Education (CCAE)
Blacksmith House, 42 Brattle Street, Cambridge
(CCAE is located to the right of the Brattle Theater in Harvard Square)

COURSE GOALS
- To provide home owners and apartment dwellers with cost-effective ways to
conserve natural resource and protect the environment.
- To place individual eco-activities into a larger environmental context.
- To create a class that inspires all participants.
- To spread increased environmental awareness and inventiveness throughout
the community

COURSE FORMAT
Each class offers a range of environmental perspectives and approaches as
three to four environmental professionals conduct a series of 20 minute
presentations.  The first speaker introduces relevant environmental
principles, trends and theories.  Once these overarching background issues
have been established, the remaining speakers will focus on specific
environmental actions and strategies for the home and community.  In this
way, students are able to place specific eco-activities into a larger
environmental context.  Each class will conclude with a follow-up question
and answer session and general discussion.

PRESENTATIONS GUIDELINES
The audience will include a wide range of ages and backgrounds, however, I
expect everyone will have a general understanding of environmental issues.
I've been told that by 8 PM, people are low on energy and want to be
entertained as well as enlightened.  Consequently, presenters are
encouraged to use visual aids (slides, overheads), conduct demonstrations,
distribute handouts and engage in dialogue.  Class interaction is good!  It
will also be helpful to provide a list of organizations, programs,
literature and key contacts that allow students to further pursue their
environmental interests.  Presentations should run for about 20 minutes.
Longer or shorter time periods can be arranged.  Overhead or slide
equipment can be supplied with proper notification.

COURSE OUTLINE (Suggested Speaker Topics)
1) COURSE INTRODUCTION
Overview Issues
    - Provide a framework from which to understand environmental issues
Skills
    - An introduction to Eco-Team and the Lifestyle Assessment

2) WATER CONSERVATION
Overview Issues
    - A review of regional water usage goals and policy
    - Watershed and river protection
Skills
    - Water conservation inside the home
    - Water conservation in the yard and garden

3) ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Overview Issues
    - Introduction to energy basics
    - Overview of regional energy policy
Skills
    - Insulating water heater or refrigerator
    - Winter insulation
    - Compact florescent light bulbs
    - Energy efficient appliances
    - Passive and active solar power

4) COMPOSTING AND VERMICULTURE
Overview Issues
    - The need for food and yard waste composting
Skills
    - Vermiculture
    - Yard composting

5) BUYING LESS-TOXIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Overview Issues
    - Introduction to the problem of toxic contamination and toxic products
Skills
    - "Wet Cleaning": alternatives to chemical cleaning
    - Managing household hazardous waste
    - A review of non-toxic products

6) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Overview Issues
    - Air pollution and energy use
Skills
    - The promise of electric vehicles (EV)
    - Using public transportation
    - The joy of biking to work

7) PLANTING A NATIVE GARDEN
Overview Issues
    - Biodiversity in the northeast
    - The benefits of indigenous plant species
Skills
    - How to go indigenous
    - Indigenous plant species resources

8) ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERISM
Overview Issues
    - The need for community based environmental activism
Skills
    - Volunteer opportunities for local environmental organizations.  The
following organizations will be invited to present their volunteer
opportunities: GreenPeace, Save the Bay, Sierra Club, Somerville
Environment and Recycling Volunteers (SERV), MassPIRG