A recent study reports that 80% of Americans are environmentally illiterate; the average citizen does not understand the ecological or human systems that create, operate, or potentially destroy our environment, such as watersheds and runoff, ecosystem dynamics or global warming. Given that the environment is the largest growing academic area in a variety of fields—and therefore, an expected source of jobs in the future—people who do not gain environmental literacy are likely to fall behind on an educational and economic level.
With this in mind, there has been a push to incorporate environmental understanding into schools, especially at the lower levels.  Through the controversial No Child Left Behind Act, President Obama has made $100 million in additional funding available for states that bring environmental literacy into school programs. Boards of Education in states like Delaware are trying to adopt statewide environmental literacy programs for all levels of secondary schooling.  The Advanced Placement course in Environmental Science is an expanding program that can grant up to 4 credits to accepting universities. Elementary schools are being applauded for incorporating outdoor exercise and education through projects like the recreation of a wetland on campus to reduce runoff pollution and naturally filter water.
The largest obstacle to this progress is the overwhelming prevalence of environmental illiteracy. Some community reactions are unbelievably negative to increasing our youth’s understanding of the environment, but these responses stem from a lack of knowledge about nature.

A recent scientific journal article examined the general public’s perception of individual energy consumption. Overall, the 505 participants of the online survey reported that efforts to conserve energy—such as turning off lights at home—were a more effective strategy than investing in energy-saving technology: an incorrect perception, according to experts. In addition, the majority of participants grossly underestimated how much energy was requires for high-energy activities, like using a washing machine.
This study uncovers a sad fact about our country: Americans do not know the energy consumption associated with the products around them.  We can’t tell how much energy—and therefore, carbon—goes into making an aluminum can versus a plastic bottle, or the environmental cost of recycling either of them.  But the good news is that making energy-related information clear and readily available could have a huge impact in our daily lives. People do want to reduce their energy use, at the very least in an effort to lower their monthly bill, so a simple educational program that outlines low-cost and efficient ways to lower a household’s draw on the power grid would be well received. Maybe we can follow some Europeans countries that have made carbon footprint labeling of packaged foods mandatory, or perhaps have concise charts comparing the environmental costs of different categories (for example, transportation, packaging or building material).

A college’s sustainability report is becoming just as important as the school’s football team and academics to potential students.  69% of universities in the US tout their environmental consciousness in some way to applicants, with efforts ranging from publicized recycling programs or signing the President’s Climate Commitment to building LEED dormitories or increasing energy efficiency across campus.  Many schools are featured on the College Sustainability Report Card, which shows the institution’s efforts such as reducing carbon emissions, increasing research money for climate change, and investing in renewable energy sources on campus.
There has also been a boom in sustainability-focused majors, minors and classes offered at all levels of higher education.  Over 100 programs in energy and sustainability were added to colleges in the last year, in schools ranging from large to small, liberal arts to technical.  Furthermore, business schools have widened their scope to include sustainability in operations and management.  So-called “green-collar workers” have remained in high demand despite the economic downturn, and employers will likely continue to value an environmentally-focused education in applicants for all fields in the future.
As the education system integrates sustainability on many levels, we can expect more environmentally conscious leaders in our future.

Last week we had the privilege of working with Devin Mashman, an 8th grader from Atlanta Georgia. We asked him to write a blog about his adventures.

My name is Devin Mashman, a 14- year old student of Arbor Montessori School, and for the past week, I have been interning at Verus Carbon Neutral. In this BLOG I will be going over my interning experience there, along with what I did and learned each day.

Day 1: Monday
Today is my first day here, and I am eager to learn. As I enter the office after passing through the disorienting labyrinth that is known as Studioplex, I begin to soak it all in. I see a group of desks scattered throughout the room, and in the corner, one that is to be mine. Andrew and I sit down at his desk, and we go over an informative power point that informs me of all of the information that I will need to know throughout the week, such as what an offset is, and the three scopes of carbon reduction. After our lesson, I got to work researching flight offsets, and continued until the conclusion of a wonderful first day.

Day 2:  Tuesday
I walk into the room, and resume my position at my snug desk in the corner. I get to work on the flight offset project, and find something interesting. This has been done before. In 2009, the San Francisco airport introduced offset kiosks where you can offset your flight just before you board your flight. As I gradually immerse myself in this new development, I begin to hear elevator music in the background. I turn around wondering what is going on, just as I remember that Andrew had told me earlier about a conference call he will have. I turn back around with a grin. This is going to be a great day.

Day 3: Wednesday
I strut into the office brimming with excitement, as today I am going to a lunch meeting with a speaker from Georgia Power. I continue on my research as time inches by, and after what seems to be forever, it is finally time to go. We arrive at the 5 Seasons, the place which the event is located, and commence mingling.  Within the seas of socializing businesspeople, I found that I met a great number of nice people who I socialized with, and everyone then took their seats. We listened to the Georgia Power representative, and ate a delicious lunch. With both my brain and my stomach full, I headed back to the office to conclude the day.

Day 4: Thursday
Today, I arrive at the scheduled time, only to find that I am unable to open the door to get in, and nobody is on the inside to let me in. After making a call of distress, I saw Jamie to the rescue. He rushes in, and tries his key. To our distress, it does not work. Thinking quickly, he takes me around to the back of the building, and we ascend the staircase located there. We navigate the maze from the other side, and make it into the office. After an already eventful morning, one can only ponder what this day will lead me to next.

Day 5: Friday
It is Friday, the last day of my internship, and with it, my last chance to go full throttle on my experience here and milk it to its fullest potential. I get this opportunity, as I am able to participate in yet another piece of Verus history, and help with the changing of the website design that you are looking at now. Looking back, I would say that this has been a great week, and a great experience.