Students who are interested in environmental issues are encouraged to actively participate in the environmental club hosted by President Madeline Stark. The club’s advisors include Nancy Kaplan- Biegel, professor of Journalism, and David Hasson, a mathematics professor at Skyline.
Stark, one of two founders of the environmental club, hopes to accomplish a great deal of distinct assignments. Bringing out awareness as well as retrieving student ideas are among some of the goals.
“I want to make students notice the negative effects of vampire energy, change our habits, and reuse water. Individually we are responsible, but as a group we can make a big impact on the environment” said Stark.
Vampire energy, which results from practices such as leaving your computer in standby mode, makes up10 percent of electricity used in U.S. households. Americans waste energy daily without even being aware of it when they leave electronic appliances on “standby mode” rather than simply shutting it down to a dormant state. Appliances that aren’t plugged in will not allow electricity to leak, helping the environment and lightening the load on your PG&E bill. Leaving your computer on standby overnight is one of the most common ways electricity is wasted, along plasma TVs, due to energy being sucked away.
“I want to see, hear, smell, and taste what’s happening worldwide and know exactly one action they can take to respond” said Hasson.
According to CBS News, in response to this energy crisis, the government passed a proposal dubbed the Vampire Slayer Act in 2006 to add vampire electronics labels to consumer products, detailing how much a charger, computer, DVD player, PlayStation, microwave, or coffee maker uses when turned on, off on in standby mode.
On the upside, Stark has a “good feeling” about the Obama administration in taking persuasive action when it comes to environmental issues. “In order to cease global warming, the administration must make it mandatory to cut carbon emissions 80% by the year 2050, according to scientists” said Stark.
The group’s upcoming event will be held on March 25, and will promote student awareness on the effects of vampire energy. So far the cosmetology as well as the drama club has offered their help in aiding them with make-up assistance and the drama students can assist in choreography and script. The event is thought to be somewhat provocative in order to get their message out, but nonetheless one can observe a sense of humor when dressing up as a vampire in the middle of March.
“I don’t really keep up with environmental issues” said Karen Hernandez, a Skyline student, so perhaps this event will inform Hernandez and students alike about environmental upheaval.
Some general tips offered by the club include: turning off appliances when not in use, share rides with friends when going out to social events, recycle always, which is already prevalent among people’s habits, buy a fuel efficient vehicle, and lastly, ride your bike or walk, for it’s good exercise that doesn’t result in wasted energy.
