Environmental studies students host Alternative Energy Festival Apr. 2

Students in geography professor Mary Finley-Brook’s environmental studies senior seminar will host the Alternative Energy Festival, the first of its kind at the University of Richmond, on April 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the University Forum. The festival will celebrate the launch of the University’s new energy monitoring system and raise awareness about global climate change and energy conservation.

The Campus Resource Monitoring System is a Web-based hardware and software system designed to encourage student energy conservation by showing how much energy is being used around campus, especially in dormitories, in real-time.

The festival will feature vendors, including local sustainable restaurant Edible Garden and the solar division of City Space Construction, which will sponsor a solar panel display. Live music will be provided by the University of Richmond jazz ensemble and University a cappella group Off the Cuff. All attendees will receive free energy-saving light bulbs and educational material on the environmental and economic benefits of energy conservation.

The Alternative Energy Festival is made possible by the Class of 1992 Environmental Awareness Gift, the Department of Geography and the Environment, the environmental studies program and the environmental studies spring 2009 senior seminar. Other partner organizations include the University of Richmond Sierra Club (RENEW) and the Virginia Clean Climate Action Network.

Posted March 25, 2009