PowerMinders has been very active. 1. PowerMinders in Harrisburg: A group of students in the Harrisburg area (currently representing 5 colleges) want to keep going through the summer months while they are on break. These students want to arrange several energy efficiency efforts and they have the momentum to recruit more students as needed to join their group. Here is what they are planning:
a.) Self Install Weatherization kit or CFL giveaways in lower income neighborhoods (which PowerMinders can, box, fulfill, etc).
b.) Education programs at community centers where young kids attending can bring the message of efficiency home and help their families modify energy usage behavior.
c.) Working with inner city communities to create small agricultural projects for sustainability.
d.) An inner city Art contest.
Any organization that can support any of the programs above should contact me at bob@powerminders.com and I will help you set up the right program with these students and make introductions as required.

2. Students from several colleges and universities have been submitting their plans for a CFL bulb giveaways, and energy efficiency kit giveaways in low income neighborhoods surrounding their respective campuses. This giveaway will occur during EarthWeek. These students are dedicated to providing energy savings for lower income, and increasing their campus' relationships with these neighborhoods. Allegheny Power is sponsoring this event. Thank you Allegheny!

3. PowerMinders management and students have been helping a green technology company design and market a "Smart Plug" that is controlled via the internet that when turned "off" eliminates ambient/vampire power in appliances like televisions for the home, and endless devices in the commercial/business market (copiers, monitors, computers, vending machines, etc). This device has the potential to save consumers and businesses significant kWh and money when appliances are in sleep mode but still using energy. (The DOE identifies this as a $3 billion dollar energy use problem per year in the US) Manufacturing of the "Smart Plug" could occur right here in PA!. Hooray! Students will be equipped with the devices fairly soon, and ready to distribute them. As support for students in PA grows, we thank you all for your help. There is so much more to come.

Earth Week Efficient Lighting Give-Away

College students in Western PA are invited to participate in an Earth Week Efficient Lighting Give Away event, sponosored by Allegheny Power. Allegheny will provide student groups with free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs to be distributed for free in local neighborhoods. The purpose of the program is help introduce homeowners to efficient lighting.

Student groups-- including marketing, environmental, and social justice organizations-- can request a supply of light bulbs to distribute in their area during earth week. The group is asked to submit a simple plan stating where and how the bulbs will be distributed (i.e., door to door give-away in a particular neighborhood, give-away to friends and family, etc.), and requesting a specific number of bulbs (50, 100 or 200). Interested student leaders should request more information by contacting Bob Fiori (bob@powerminders.com).

Homeowners can also buy additional Energy Kits. Proceeds from additional kit sales can benefit either the student group, or Penn Future, the statewide environmental organization.

For more information contact bob@powerminders.com

Earth Day Fundraiser Supports Pennsyvlania's Future

April 24th is coming... The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. To help celebrate this important milestone, students from across the state will be joining together to spread the word about ways in which we can reduce our impact on the environment. PowerMinders.com Energy Savings Kits are a great way to save energy in the home, and support student groups and initiatives.

Many student groups across the state of Pennsylvania are joining together to raise money for Penn Future, Pennsylvania's leading environmental advocacy group. "We're excited to have students on-board, helping to support us around Earth Day" says Christine Knapp, of Penn Future.

Student groups interested in participating in the fundraiser are encouraged to sign up at:

http://www.powerminders.com/fundraising/signup/

You can learn more about Penn Future at:

http://www.pennfuture.org/aboutus.aspx

Temple grad wins statewide energy case study contest

Philadelphia (January 5, 2010) Sveta McShane, a 2009 graduate of Temple University entered her energy case study in a statewide contest sponsored by PowerMinders and Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) and won $500 for her efforts.
College students from across Pennsylvania submitted case studies on their environmental work, and Ms. McShane's case study - focusing on the town of Narberth and demonstrating where energy use could be reduced - was the panel's favorite. "It wasn't all me", said Ms. McShane, "I was lucky to have open access to Narberth's energy records since 1997, and accurate information on household numbers, municipal cars, trucks, usage, etc."
Ms. McShane was also able to tap the expertise of the Environmental Studies faculty at Temple University and Narberth Green's founder Avi Fox.
"I am sure many towns use energy the way Narberth does, and they can learn from the report, as well", said Ms. McShane. Her report showed that Narberth's street lights were a major cost factor, and the borough is now looking at replacing all street lights with new, energy efficient LED lighting, while also time improving safety.
Borough Manager Bill Martin praised the case study. "This report shed tremendous light on where our largest uses were occurring, and it allowed us to apply for state funding to become more energy efficient and replace our HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) equipment. The report was shared with our residents, and helped us all realize that simple and inexpensive self-installed measures along with behavior changes are not large inconveniences and can save us all about 30 percent in our energy costs and carbon output".
Christine Knapp, director of outreach for PennFuture, praised Ms. McShane's entry, saying "Her case study is clear proof that every environmental victory grows the economy. Narberth is now saving money during these hard financial times by using energy more wisely, setting an example for other townships. Congratulations to Ms. McShane for showing the way."
Sveta McShane hopes to use her experience, knowledge and concerns for our environment in her developing career. Her full report is available online at www.powerminders.com/educators/NarberthGreensCaseStudy.pdf.
PowerMinders is a growing national network of college students doing positive things to save homeowners and business on their energy bills and reducing pollution. These students engage in various activities that provide valuable experiences to successfully pursue careers in the growing green economy.
PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization, founded in 1998. PennFuture's activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education and assisting citizens in public advocacy.
Working from the premise that "Every environmental victory grows the economy," PennFuture has successfully advocated for landmark environmental legislation, including passage of the largest-ever environmental funding bond, public investment in green energy and energy savings programs, passage of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, adoption of the Clean Vehicles Program and adoption of a regulation that protects Pennsylvania’s babies by restricting mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. PennFuture has staff throughout the state, in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, West Chester, Doylestown and Wilkes-Barre. The Philadelphia Inquirer called PennFuture the "state’s leading environmental advocacy organization."

SGA makes moves toward environmental responsibility - News

SGA makes moves toward environmental responsibility - News

Cabrini student gives back to her high school

(from the Daily American)
Cabrini College student Molly Enos is going back to her high school in Somerset, to share with students there her experience in working to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and energy consumption.
Enos, a graduate of the class of 2007, will speak at an assembly at Rockwood Area High School Thursday. The subject is her participation in a Pensylvania-based college student organization called PowerMinders, and the simple things high school students can do to help their families save money on their electric bills.
“I hope my high school’s students will appreciate having a recent grad talk about how they can have an impact on the world they will inherit,” she said. “Conserving energy is on every one’s mind, and I know when I was in high school I was a major reason my parent’s electric bill was higher than it needed to be. I hope we can change that.”
Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative is helping to sponsor the event.
“Giving back to the community is important to Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative,” said Carline Mitchel, marketing specialist at Somerset REC. “It bodes well with the cooperative principles of education and concern for community. We are proud to contribute to the education of our youth, helping secure the future of our local area.”
According to Bob Fiori, founder of PowerMinders, “This is the first high school rogram we’ve done that is sponsored. We are currently working with college and university students throughout Pennsylvania to conserve energy and reduce the
cost of electricity, but we think it’s important for high school students to know that they, too, have a role in making sure that the environment is safe for them and their children. We will be supplying the students with compact fluorescent bulbs
to be installed at home. We hope they will take Molly’s message to heart and join us in making Pennsylvania ‘green.’”

POWERMINDERS ADDRESES STUDENTS AT PENN STATE ON ENERGY SAVING EFFORTS

PowerMinders will address 650 students and faculty from 10 colleges and universities on October 24th and 25th in State College, Pa. on how they can get involved in helping Pennsylvania residents save energy now and reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

Dedicated to uniting college students in energy efficiency efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania residents, PowerMinders has been working with other “green energy” organizations for the past year to prepare the way for Act 129, which mandates that the state’s major energy companies reduce their customers’ power demand and consumption by 3 percent by 2013.

“Organizations like Keystone Environmental Youth Coalition, Eco-Action, and 3E CoE, also will be here and it’s gong to be a fun weekend,” said Derek Luke of Penn State University's Eco-Action Club.
According to Quincey Xavier, PowerMinders’ newly appointed Director of Program Development, “PowerMinders does not take a lobbying role, but a 'what can be done now' role' in assisting the state’s power companies achieve their goals under Act 129.”

While the energy companies’ plans are being approved by the Public Utility Commission, PowerMinders continues enrolling students throughout the state to help in energy reduction efforts. They are now creating divisions of students that can give away bulbs in low income neighborhoods to more highly trained students who can perform more sophisticated tasks.

"While working toward specific goals and programs, our students are preparing themselves for green-related jobs in Pennsylvania”, said Bob Fiori PowerMinders founder. He noted that there are more than 580,000 undergrads in Pennsylvania and PowerMinders' goal is to engage several thousand students in helping residents save on their energy costs while reducing the state's carbon footprint.
By replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, conducting in-home energy surveys and installing energy savings products that immediately impact energy consumption, PowerMinders will provide significant savings for Pennsylvania homeowners.

"Next month we launch our 'Give Energy Back to your High School Alma Mater' program, where we begin scheduling college students to visit their former high school in an assembly and give students the tools necessary to impact their family's energy usage immediately" Fiori said. "We believe the tools and presentation material we'll provide will have a big impact on high school students, and they'll listen intently to a recent graduate of their high school who is doing good things for their community."