Environmental Nature Center gets Electrified!

The Environmental Nature Center recently installed an Electric Vehicle Charging Station, and purchased an Electric Vehicle (EV) to be used as an eco-friendly mode of transportation for its Traveling Naturalist.

The ENC is celebrating 40 years of providing quality education through hands on experience with nature. To celebrate this milestone, the ENC purchased an EV for its new Traveling Naturalist program, which conducts off site environmental education programs at schools and for community groups.

"Over the last 40 years, the ENC has served as our community's foremost authority on ecological responsibility, sustainable practices and environmental education,” Bo Glover, Executive Director said. "The ENC is committed to promoting sustainability. The vehicle and charging station will launch the ENC into a new era, and inspire others to protect the natural world.”

The ENC purchased a new Ford Transit Connect Electric van that can travel up to 80 miles on a single charge, and can be recharged using either a 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlet. A motivating factor for the ENC was the opportunity to reduce its impact on the environment by recharging the vehicle using the energy obtained from solar panels at its facility.

“I think it’s great that we’re able to ‘practice what we preach’ when it comes to being green and sustainable,” said ENC Traveling Naturalist Sama Wareh, who also designed the wrap for the new vehicle. “As I’m driving to schools, loaded up with hawks, owls, snakes and tarantulas, I feel proud knowing that my vehicle is producing zero emissions. When I plug in at schools I feel like I’m setting a positive example and educating people through my actions!”

The charging station accommodates two vehicles. One of the spaces will be designated for the ENC’s charging needs, while the other will be made available to Center visitors and community members.

With approximately 20 other charging stations located throughout Orange County, the ENC will be joining the effort of providing a recharging destination for drivers that have opted for an eco-friendly vehicle powered by electricity rather than gasoline. The ENC encourages local residents to come by the center for a refill of nature and electricity.

Staying Green with LEEDing Technology

Corona del Mar High School student Julia Kerr recently interviewed our Director of Education Lori Whalen for a paper she's doing on green building. Here it is:

Julia: Where do you think green construction is going in the future?

Lori: I think that the standards developed by the US Green Building Council - LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification - will become mandatory for new construction in things like recycling or sourcing a certain amount of materials locally. Hopefully, this will also include clean water and energy efficiency as well. Frankly, years and years down the line, I foresee a law stating that NO water can be used on landscaping at all, requiring homeowners and businesses to only use locally native plants that are adaptable to the climate & geography of an area.

Julia: How do you think all construction projects could become "greener"?

Lori: I think the best way for new construction to be green is to use land that is already being used. No new construction should occur on open space, ever. We should be building UP, not out, incorporating elements of “New Urbanism” in modern development, to revitalize our old downtowns and “Main Street USA’s” in the hopes of creating neighborhoods where people would want to live AND work. New Urbanism basically promotes walkable neighborhoods, in cities that use sustainable methods of expansion. This was the way cities grew before everyone had a car. We should be able to walk to the market and bike to the movie theatre, thrift store, park, etc. And with the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, people have begun to make an impact. The USGBC, for example, has a new "LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System" that integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for neighborhood design.

Julia: How have green technology and the understanding of how we can work with our environment, changed environmentally-friendly construction or construction in general?

Lori: Well, the technologies are definitely out there to make buildings more green, but the common misconception is that they are too expensive for "regular people" to implement. In some cases this might be true, but in many cases it is not. Sometimes, the drivers holding back such an initiative are silly things like immobility. For example, my homeowners association will not allow homeowners to install solar panels because they are concerned that they might be visually unappealing. My response? Pollution from power plants supplying us with dirty energy is visually unappealing. Oil spills are visually unappealing and so is mountaintop removal mining for coal. The kids we teach here at the ENC understand this concept! Nonetheless, technologies are improving all the time and the building industry is implementing them, slowly but surely. Honestly, I think the building industry is making positive changes WAY faster than many individuals are. Everyone should be using a re-usable water bottle and coffee cups. Everyone should be using re-usable shopping bags. Everyone should be refusing Styrofoam and plastic containers. Alternatives are always available. Support those that have implemented them! These are just tiny changes that everyone can implement NOW, and there are no excuses!

Julia: How much more does it cost initially to build a “green” building verses a regular building?

Lori: To become LEED Certified, it requires no additional cost, because California’s standards on energy efficiency are stringent enough to make any new building certifiable. To move to Silver, it requires an additional 2%, Gold another 5-10%, and Platinum another 15-20%. The ENC building is certified LEED Platinum, the highest certification you can receive.

Julia: What are the most common ways of making a building green?

Lori: I've already mentioned some like using recycled or renewable resources and sourcing materials locally. In addition, there are other ways to make “green” buildings including recycling construction waste, using light colors to minimize the “heat island effect,” relying on renewable energy, implementing water conservation methods, using natural ventilation, and also alternative transportation. The ENC, for example, has parking spots for alternative-fuel vehicles and for those who carpool (We just installed an ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION!)

Julia: In your opinion, what are the best building materials for reducing the environmental impact of construction?

Lori: The best building materials are simply the ones that are recycled, like our shelving made from sunflower seed shells, or our insulation made from recycled cotton denim.

After having learned how ENC promotes and incorporates LEEDing technology and construction, what are your thoughts on green building and how we can go about in achieving environmental sustainability?

Rewarding ENC's Finest

On top of complex schedules and busy lives, 11 ENC volunteers stood above the rest by receiving one of the most distinguished awards in community service: The President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award is given to individuals who dedicate a great deal of their time to the betterment of their organizations, and this year, ENC recognized the following for their tremendous work: Alice Apkarian (volunteer of the year; see picture on right), Dennis Campbell, Jeanne Fisher, Darlene Letnes, David Nishioka, Jamie Perlman, Ruth Wolpe, Weston Butera, Jordan Castleton, Ian Fries, and Mike Krasel.

Whether its docenting the museum, cleaning up the butterfly house, or serving as junior naturalist, these volunteers put in countless hours to help ENC provide quality education through hands-on experience with nature. The result of their efforts are often unseen from the outside, but here in ENC, their contributions make a huge difference, and not without notice.

Director of Education Lori Whalen took a few minutes last week to acknowledge the support that the volunteers deliver. “The ENC was built through the efforts of volunteers, and it continues to function smoothly with their invaluable assistance,” she says. “The volunteers that received this special honor have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help the ENC.”

A 3 ½ acre classroom, the ENC provides a great place to volunteer, whether you are looking to build your resume, try new things, or simply make a difference in your community. Call 949-645-8489 or visit www.encenter.org to find out how you can be a part of one of the most respected organizations in Orange County.

Get there, Greener with the ENC and OCTA

Gas prices are soaring in Orange County and the ENC is just as fed up with paying over $4 for a gallon of gas as you are! Guess what? Alternatives do exist and the ENC is partnering with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to bring them directly to you.

On Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m., the ENC will host its “Getting there, Greener” program, alongside OCTA representatives, in an effort to get people out of their cars and onto a bus, train, bicycle, or into a ridesharing program.

Come by the ENC to find out how easy, inexpensive, and eco-friendly riding the bus actually is! Everyone attending the program will learn the bus-riding basics – how to ride, reading a schedule, riding tips, using the bike rack, as well as safety and security.

Another perk offered to all attendees will be a free promotional one-day bus pass, courtesy of the OCTA, for everyone that completes a simple survey.

So beat the gas-pump-blues and ride in eco-friendly style with the ENC and OCTA, you’ll be doing your part to preserve the environment and might even make new friends along the way!

More photos from session 3!

Photos from Camp!