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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Claremont High School AP environmental science teacher John Lawrence speaks to Webb School students Monday night about energy conservation issues and global warming. |
CHS teacher invokes ‘The Webb Challenge’
Claremont High School AP environmental science teacher John Lawrence was in attendance during the Webb School’s recent Unbounded Thinkers Symposium. Yet the CHS teacher was not there to be just a spectator.
Touching on issues such as sustainability, conservation and global warming, Mr. Lawrence challenged the Webb community to cut down on its energy use after presenting the results of a carbon footprint that he had performed prior to his presentation in the Mudd Auditorium on Monday night.
Before Monday, his prior visits to Webb were spent collecting data on the school’s energy usage that became a significant portion of his presentation 5 days ago.
“They wanted me to look at the school—I had never been to Webb before,” Mr. Lawrence said. “They told me about the upcoming symposium and I told them of my background and, as a result, they wanted me to challenge their students to save energy.”
While Mr. Lawrence’s presentation contained a balance of lighthearted humor and serious environmental considerations, the point driven home was a need to be more environmentally conscious and to take action. Among the examples that the AP teacher gave to point out the seriousness of how the environment is changing globally were the death of coral reefs, sea turtles breeding a significant number of more males than females and the disappearing of glaciers.
Throughout the lecture, Mr. Lawrence would ask the Webb audience questions about energy efficiency on campus. According to the data he presented, between 2005-07, Webb increased in energy usage by 28.4 percent; 2006-07 saw an 11.6-percent increase in energy usage.
Though the AP instructor pointed out the need for Webb to reduce its use of energy and observed multiple examples where energy is wasted, he was also quick to point out the positives that are going on at Webb. In his observation of the campus, Mr. Lawrence considered the strides the school had already made in becoming more energy efficient and also took notice of the current efforts of the school in being environmentally conscious.
“I was surprised at how much more energy they use each year,” Mr. Lawrence explained. “But this is also the first carbon footprint I’ve done at a school where people live 24/7. I want to also say that the maintenance staff has done a wonderful job of retrofitting the campus and in areas of conservation.”
After Mr. Lawrence concluded his lecture, Webb Head of Schools Susan Nelson reinforced the challenge given by the CHS instructor that will have Webb reduce its energy usage by 25 percent. Ms. Nelson reminded the students that being aware is just one step but taking action is what defines an ethic.
“I think we’ve been moving from listening and reflecting to doing—and that’s good,” she said. “John’s carbon footprint of us is nothing to be proud of and we not only need to do better, we have to do better.” (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Claremont High School AP environmental science teacher John Lawrence speaks to Webb School students Monday night about energy conservation issues and global warming. |
The Vivian Webb School Class of 2009 environmental group is one place to look at where students are already seeking to make improvements on campus. Five of the areas of focus are conserving water, using less to waste less, smarter shopping in purchasing organic products and using fewer plastic bags, turning off electricity when not in use and recycling whenever possible.
“I noticed that a lot of us leave our cell phone chargers, computers and fans plugged in when we can unplug them if we’re not using them,” said Atma Khalsa, a Vivian Webb junior. “If we go to a place like Chipotle and we get something to drink, we can save the bottle and bring it back to school to recycle it.”
The group is campaigning for insulation in all campus buildings, the installation of solar panels to supplement heating, the enlistment of expert alumni to help analyze energy campus usage, the appointment of a panel of experts to recommend changes to the school, new and remodeled buildings on campus designed “green,” and also the consideration of wind power and natural elements in regards to heating and cooling.
The day after Mr. Lawrence’s lecture on Tuesday, a group of Webb students planted an organic garden that consisted of two containers with seeds of multiple vegetables.
“It was really fun and it was a lot of work,” said Sarah Fuentes, also a Vivian Webb junior.
While there is plenty that the Class of 2009 environmental group has already pondered, students such as Vivian Webb junior Christine Wheaton appreciated that Mr. Lawrence’s presentation brought to light energy issues related specifically to her school and that he also offered various suggestions on what the students and faculty could do to help lessen energy use on campus.
“He actually showed us how much our energy usage has increased over the years but at the same time, he told us things that we can actually do [to decrease it],” Christine said.
Fellow student Madeleine Koski agrees.
“I like how he involved students in his presentation and how he was funny,” she said. “It was amazing to see how much energy we actually use.”
—Landus Rigsby
