Harbor College Technology Center
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GREEN PERSPECTIVES
On the 'Greener' Side:
Green College Technology and Initiatives
by Larry H. Eisenberg
As a
whole, the community college system is a major training ground for the
nation's workforce and serves as a career-development incubator for
today's jobs and future industries. An annual event, the Green California
Community College Summit is designed to address the issues of building
green campuses and creating green curriculum based on technology that is
being developed at lightning speed to meet the needs of tomorrow's green
economy.
The Los
Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is
participating in the Summit to share our experience and learn from other
community college districts and experts in the fields of green building,
curriculum and technology. As we march into a more sustainable and
technology-based culture, the community college system needs to continue
to develop innovative teaching methods, academic programs, courses
and content that address the needs of 21st century students -
especially in relation to green technology. Alternative
energy solutions and renewable technology are in high demand and the need
for green innovation is having a tremendous impact on how community
colleges formulate policies, initiatives and programs to stay ahead of the
curve.
A significant number of all U.S. undergraduates pass through community
colleges seeking training and education in a variety of fields. With emerging
green technology and the industries that support it rising steadily,
training workers who understand these new standards and are skilled in
applying them will be the best service we can give to students. These will
be the same students who will make up a new talent pool of
environmentally-conscious, highly-skilled workers.
As a model, the LACCD is implementing a Green College
Initiative & Curriculum program that includes the development of green
buildings, as well as a curriculum that covers a wide variety of
disciplines such as architecture, solar installation, alternative fuels,
water supply, wastewater, and sustainable construction. Our building
program is a massive green effort that will result in the development of
44 new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings, and
two new satellite campuses are also slated to be LEED-certified. Our
sustainability policy has led to
the development of a Renewable Energy plan that includes generating enough
on-site, renewable power through solar, wind, geothermal and energy
storage using techniques such as hydrogen-generation and storage at each
campus to, ultimately, make all nine colleges energy independent.
On many levels, the benefits of implementing a green initiative and green
building are extensive. For starters, a strong education program prepares
students for future employment, and
national
forecasts indicate that many of the country's future top growth
occupations will be eco-centered. Colleges
designed with proper ventilation, material selection, acoustical quality,
and material selection have been shown repeatedly to improve student and
employee health, promote higher attendance and result in better student
performance. Attention to site planning and adequate day lighting has been
shown to heighten student performance by as much as 25 percent.
Decreased operating costs are another measurable benefit of "going green".
Energy and water operating costs can be reduced by 20 to 40 percent,
allowing community colleges to provide a unique educational opportunity
when advanced technology and design are made visible with buildings seen
as teaching tools. Green building design and informational kiosks can also
be used as important features of the college experience and can contribute
to the effort to combat climate change.
Advancements in training and educational programs will better address our
changing environment and workforce. Growing industries and new technology
will impact us in the future and
anticipating the skills necessary for our students to work in those
industries helps us all to succeed. This means that community colleges
must lead the country in providing sustainable education that boosts
enterprise and produces good stewards to conserve our most vital natural
resources.
At the end of the day, green technology will continue
to influence and impact our lives, meaning that the need for us to
create a new pipeline of eco-conscious, highly-skilled workers and
students is ever present. Our policies, programs and initiatives must be
innovative and
creative if we are going to make a difference. Continued preparation
for the advances in green technology will be even more critical than ever
before. For the community college system, how effectively we train and
educate our nation for the new green economy will likely shape our
survival. Beginning our green efforts now gives us a great head-start
toward developing an eco-friendly, highly-skilled workforce.
Larry H.
Eisenberg is executive director of facilities planning and development for
the Los Angeles Community College District.
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