Southeastern to sponsor Sustainability Day with tours of center
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
by: Rene Abadie
SUSTAINABILITY CENTER TOURS – Elementary school students learn about solar power and other alternative energy methods at a tour of Southeastern’s Sustainability Center. The center will offer educational tours for junior high and high school students on the university’s celebration of Sustainability Day, Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tours on that day or at other times can be arranged by calling 985-549-5172.
HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University Sustainability Center will celebrate
“Sustainability Day” Wednesday, Feb. 22, with educational tours of the high-tech facility
for junior high and high school students.
“We offer tours to area schools as a hands-on learning experience on alternative
energy techniques, providing students with an opportunities to learn more about the
sustainability techniques that are available,” said Carlos Doolittle, manager of grounds,
landscaping and recycling at Southeastern.
The 90-minute tours will be offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m, and 1 p.m. at the center,
which is operated by the Southeastern Office of Physical Plant Services. The center
is located at 2101 North Oak Street. Schools are asked to pre-register for the free
tours on Sustainability Day or any other day by emailing sustainability@southeastern.edu or by calling 985-549-5172.
The center opened several years ago to provide an educational facility for university
students as well as generate financial savings for the university. The award-winning
center, which also is now a teaching resource available to the public, is a demonstration
site to assist students in learning more about renewable energy, recycling and waste
reduction, plant biology and other sustainable technologies.
Features include a plant propagation area that uses rainwater runoff for irrigation;
technologically-strong classrooms for energy engineering technology study; and an
educational outreach center powered by solar, wind and hydrothermal energy.
The facility also features projects that demonstrate biofuel technology, a mobile
gasification unit that turns woody products into electricity, and a rainwater collection
unit for non-drinking water purposes.
