CLEVELAND, WI–

Lakeshore Technical College today held “The Power of Green” event, which focused on sustainability and energy conservation efforts on national, state, local and campus levels.

The event included a national web cast, keynote speakers and panel discussion and educational displays from Focus on Energy, We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service. LTC students, faculty and staff as well as K-12 partner/district administrators were in attendance.

The event began with a viewing of a national web cast on global warming solutions. Several experts discussed ways to reduce carbon emissions in an effort to keep global warming as low as possible. Other topics included the creation of “green” collar jobs, in which workers are trained to aid businesses in becoming environmentally friendly, and also how college students are approaching their schools with proposals of ways to “go green.”

Paul Linzmeyer, consultant and change agent for the Triple Bottom Line High Performance Sustainable Strategies and chairman of the Board of Ecolution, Inc., spoke about creating sustainable organizations through the reduction of carbon footprints. One suggestion he had was for businesses to allow employees to telecommute (work from home), which would help reduce the amount of pollution emitted from vehicles.

Steve Heins, vice president of communication and government affairs for Orion Energy Systems, Inc., spoke about how using energy efficient lighting can help companies reduce electricity use, therefore saving costs and utilizing fewer resources.

Manitowoc Mayor Kevin Crawford spoke about working to create an eco-community through “Go Green Manitowoc.” He noted Manitowoc’s many eco-friendly efforts, including using energy efficient lighting in city buildings and traffic lights, high efficiency boilers in City Hall, and skylights in the city’s Public Safety Building.

John Sigwart, an engineer for Miller Engineers & Scientists, spoke about creating a sustainable residential development called the WindMor in the Town of Sheboygan. He said the conservation design includes building around the natural views of the area, keeping the development from being visible from the major roads, and maintaining 50 percent open space in the subdivision.

LTC Renewable Energy Instructor Jenny Eigenberger spoke about LTC’s “green” efforts, including using energy efficient lighting on campus and obtaining power from the campus wind turbine and photovoltaic arrays. She also talked about LTC’s classes and program offerings in the wind energy and solar electric fields.

The Power of Green event concluded with the panel of speakers addressing questions and LTC President Mike Lanser speaking about how everyone can make decisions on a daily basis to reduce their impact on the environment.

LTC faculty incorporated The Power of Green into their classes for the day. LTC Psychology Instructor Vicki Wiese spoke to her class about research regarding companies “going green” and the bias that can exist in the interpretation of research results. LTC Business and Technology Instructor Deborah Ryan brought students from her project management class to The Power of Green event to learn more the topic.

LTC’s The Power of Green event was part of a larger effort called “Focus the Nation,” a national teach-in that engaged nearly 1 million students and faculty with political leaders and decision makers about global warming solutions. A teach-in is a day when a school turns its attention to a single issue.

More than 1,700 colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools, and other organizations across the country participated simultaneously in Focus the Nation, and each school determined its specific activities for the day. For more information, go to www.focusthenation.org.

About Lakeshore Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College is a leading provider of technical education offering 100 career programs including associate degrees, technical diplomas, technical certificates, and apprenticeship programs. In addition, LTC offers distance learning, customized training to business and industry, and continuing educational opportunities.

Serving a 200,500-resident population in east central Wisconsin, LTC operates a main campus in Cleveland; additional learning sites at LTC Manitowoc and LTC Sheboygan; outreach centers at area high schools in Kiel, Mishicot, Plymouth, Random Lake, Reedsville, and Two Rivers; and 27 distance learning sites. LTC’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen the economy by preparing a workforce that is skilled, diverse and flexible. On average, 79% of LTC graduates work in the LTC District which includes Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties, and parts of Calumet and Ozaukee Counties. Visit LTC at: gotoltc.edu.